Nielsen Leads Burbank, 43-40

As the only sophomore on the court, Mark Nielsen was the player least familiar with the Burbank-Burroughs rivalry.

Nielsen did not play in the first game between the schools. At that time, he was on Burbank’s junior varsity team.

When the Bulldogs’ David van Dam became academically ineligible last week, however, Burbank Coach Russ Keith brought up Nielsen for the rest of the season. He couldn’t have picked a better replacement.

Nielsen scored just seven points but all of them were crucial in Burbank’s 43-40 win over the Indians at Burroughs on Thursday.

“I was sort of nervous at the beginning, but once everything got going I felt pretty good,” Nielsen said. “I didn’t expect to play as much as I did tonight, but I’m glad the way things turned out.”

Burroughs Coach Jesse Mason said: “I think what I’m most concerned about was that they played without one of their key players, and we couldn’t beat them. Nielsen did a super job for them tonight.”

Nielsen was also a factor on defense. He played at the baseline in Burbank’s defense and was able to prevent Burroughs from getting the ball inside effectively. As a result, Burroughs made just 33% of its shots, most from long range.

Burbank (18-5, 9-1 in league) clinched a share of its third Foothill League championship in four years. Burroughs (8-13, 6-4) will be the league’s third-place representative.

Burbank led throughout, but almost let the game slip away in the final 2 1/2 minutes. In that time, the Bulldogs missed 8 of 11 free throws, including five straight.

Burroughs was unable to capitalize, however, and Tom Kelly’s jump shot at the buzzer was as close as the Indians could get.

“I never thought we were out of it,” Mason said. “But we just couldn’t cash in down the stretch.”

After leading, 10-8, at the end of the first quarter, Burbank looked as if it was going to turn the game into a blowout. The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the second quarter and led by seven with 4:45 remaining.

Burroughs closed the gap with a late run, however, and trailed at the half, 21-15. The Indians could have cut the margin further, but Rob Harris and John Johnson both missed the front ends of one-and-one situations in the last three minutes.

BURBANK--Chandler 6, Beckner 2, Manning 8, Clansen 13, Peters 3, Nielsen 7, Velasco 4.

BURROUGHS--Kelly 16, Mudgett 7, Tebbe 2, Casal 5, Harris 8, Bowne 2.