School to forfeit games
Jeff Tully
Burbank High is recommending the school’s boys’ basketball team
forfeit five nonleague games after it was discovered a player
falsified enrollment documents.
A faxed statement Tuesday from the Burbank Unified School District
outlined the school’s investigation of Bulldog senior transfer Kevin
Greene.
“During the investigation, new information was received indicating
that falsified enrollment documents had been submitted to the school
during registration,” the document read.
“The result is that an ineligible player participated in five
boys’ varsity basketball contests between [Dec 4 and 13].”
The situation involves Greene -- a 5-foot-11 point guard -- who
transferred to Burbank from Venice High. First-year Bulldog Coach
Dave Goosen coached Greene at Venice two seasons ago.
Some coaches with an association with the Venice program said
Greene was a senior on the Gondoliers’ boys’ team two seasons ago.
They claim Greene has already used up his high school eligibility.
Goosen insists Greene was a sophomore two years ago.
The district statement suggests Greene’s status as an illegible
player is what has prompted the forfeitures.
“The findings of the investigation have been forwarded to the [CIF
Southern Section] with recommendation that Burbank High School
forfeit five games for violation of Rule 201: age requirement,” the
document read.
In the CIF Southern Section Blue Book Constitution and Bylaws,
Section 201, it reads: “No student whose 19th birthday is attained
prior to June 15 shall participate or practice on any given team for
the following year. A student whose 19th birthday is on June 14 or
before is ineligible.”
Schools which Burbank defeated prior to Dec. 13 will be notified
of the forfeits this week, the statement read.
Prior to the investigation, Greene was declared academically
ineligible when grades came out before the holiday break.
Before his ineligibility, Greene had three straight triple-double
games, including 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists Dec. 13 in a
103-60 nonleague win against Downtown Business Magnet.
The team began the season 5-1, and is 6-6 -- before the forfeits
are factored in.
Thom Simmons, director of sports information for the CIF Southern
Section, said Tuesday afternoon his office had not yet received any
formal paperwork about the Greene case.
“As of now, there is nothing on the desk about that,” Simmons
said. “Everything is being handled by Helen Quayle at Burbank.”
Quayle, the Burbank assistant principal of activities and
athletics, said Greene is no longer enrolled at Burbank. She also
said she doesn’t foresee any disciplinary action being taken against
Goosen.
“There is no reason to believe [Goosen] had any involvement in the
situation,” Quayle said.
The Bulldogs end their nonleague schedule at 6:30 p.m. today with
a home game against San Gabriel.
Burbank begins Foothill League play at 7 p.m. Friday with a home
game against Saugus.
Under former Coach Ron Quarterman, Burbank failed to make it to
the CIF Southern Section playoffs last season.