St. Augustine Forfeits 12 for Use of Ineligible Player

The St. Augustine High School boys’ basketball team must forfeit 12 games, including two in the City Harbor League, for using an ineligible player, school officials announced Wednesday.

St. Augustine had been tied for first in the league with Coronado and Christian (3-1), but the forfeits--including league losses to Coronado and Marian Catholic--leave the Saints at 2-19 and 1-3. Coronado is first alone at 4-0.

“It was an oversight that has since been cleared up,” said Marty Martin, St. Augustine athletic director. “The public-to-private transfer waiver form was never signed by the player.”

Martin said the oversight was discovered after an athlete from another sport had a routine interview with Principal John Sanders. It was discovered that the athlete hadn’t signed the waiver form, leading Sanders to ask Martin about the basketball player. When the mistake was discovered, St. Augustine immediately notified the San Diego Section office, and the form was signed.

The player missed St. Augustine’s 79-76 victory over Clairemont but was back for the Saints’ 92-88 overtime victory over University City Friday.