5-A PREP BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Marina Falls in 1st Round : Eric Nelson Scores 23 for St. Bernard in a 62-59 Victory

Considering basketball is his second sport, forward Eric Nelson of St. Bernard High School plays a pretty mean game.

The 6-foot 5-inch senior was practically everywhere on the court and seemingly scored every big basket in St. Bernard’s 62-59 victory over Marina Thursday night in the opening round of the 5-A division playoffs in Huntington Beach.

Nelson scored 23 points, including two key baskets in the final two minutes of play, to lead St. Bernard to its eighth victory in its last nine games. St. Bernard (19-7) will play host to Long Beach Millikan (21-4) in the second round.

Marina (18-7) held a 55-54 lead with 2:16 remaining after forward Steve Guild scored on a jump shot. It was the last time the Vikings were in the game as St. Bernard utilized its superior quickness to take control.

Nelson scored on a drive through the lane to push St. Bernard ahead, 56-55, and then scored on a follow shot for a three-point lead, 58-55. The Vikings padded it to 60-55 when Keith Brown made a steal off the full-court press and scored with only 1:13 remaining.

The quick blitz left a group of stunned Marina players and their coach, Steve Popovich, to ponder what happened.

“They can do that to you with their quickness and pressure,” Popovich said.

“We were one possession away from tying or winning the game, and boom, one or two turnovers, and we’re out of it.

“They’re a good team. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go a long ways in the playoffs. Their quickness is going to give teams a lot of trouble.”

Jim McClune, St. Bernard coach, had his team pressing the entire game and cleverly mixed up his presses to keep Marina off stride. Most effective was a 1-2-2, with Nelson pressuring any Marina player who inbounded the ball.

“That’s our most aggressive press,” McClune said.

“This is the first time in 10 years we don’t have a senior with a Division I basketball scholarship, so we have to work harder.”

Nelson does have a football scholarship to UCLA as a defensive back. He showed he’s a pretty good shooter, making 10 of 13 attempts, and was equally adept at the defensive end by limiting Guild to 13 points.

Guard David Yamate led Marina with 15 points, but he had only three points after the first quarter. Yamate made four consecutive three-point shots in the opening eight minutes as Marina took a 20-16 lead.