The Palo Alto High Schools girls’ basketball team was forced to forfeit its first two games of the season because of an ineligible player who competed against Capuchino and San Mateo High Schools, according to a team member.

An anonymous member of the team played while ineligible, according to sophomore guard Maddy Atwater.

“A member of the team played in the two games when she was not allowed to,” Atwater said.

The Vikings owned a 6-2 overall record before their mandatory forfeiting of their first two games. Paly, which soundly defeated Gilroy High School, 72-20, Monday evening, will have to overcome this setback in order to regain control of their season, according to Atwater. The Vikings were coming off a big win against Gilroy High School.

“We’ve already bounced back,” Atwater said. “Because she can’t play that only made us push harder and make up for the loss. We have been pushing ourselves and each other and just have to focus on the areas we are lacking in.”

Atwater also spoke on the teams plans to improve this week in practice.

“Practices this week have been about running the court and transitioning, while keeping up the defense,” Atwater said. “Our defense and boxing out is very huge with the current loss of this player and our transitioning will hopefully tire the other team out. We are just trying to push ourselves so we can play to our potential.”

The Paly girls are set to take on Evergreen Valley High School (1-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Hunt Memorial tournament at Evergreen Valley High School.