The Palo Alto High School girls’ basketball team (8-8, 1-3) will face a tough test tonight in the form of the surging Wilcox Chargers (15-2, 5-0), who will travel to the Big Gym to take on a Paly team still rebounding after Friday’s tough loss to Mountain View High School.

According to senior guard Hope Crockett, the Vikings will use their heart-breaking last-second defeat against Mountain View, 55-54, as motivation.

“We are going to channel our frustration from Friday’s [game] into this game and really get after it,” Crockett said.  “We are pumped and ready to go fight to do what we need to do to win.”

Bringing down the Chargers, however, will be no easy task. Wilcox is led by standout senior center Joeseta Fatuesi, who has dominated opponents all season on both sides of the court.

Fatuesi’s experience and size advantage will be a handful for the underclassmen Viking post players.

As for defending Fatuesi, Crockett says that the coaching staff has implemented an effective plan to limit the Wilcox star offensively.

“We have a game plan going in that will hopefully shut her down while also not allowing the outside shot,” Crockett said.

With a win, the Vikings would be above .500 for the first time in over a week. After they take on Wilcox at 7 p.m. tonight in the Big Gym, the Vikings will travel to Milpitas High School to challenge the Trojans at 6:15 p.m. Friday.