Iowa high school basketball team forfeits 9 games over use of ineligible player

IHSAA brought down ruing after Roosevelt (Iowa) self-reported violation

Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa is forfeiting nine wins after self-reporting the use of a player who was ineligible, the school announced in a letter to the school community on Tuesday.

Athletic director Andrew Wade characterized it as a violation of the Iowa High School Athletic Association "age scholarship rule" on Feb. 2, a Friday, and reported it to the . 

The IHSAA ruled Roosevelt must forfeit the nine wins in games the player — whose name has not been made public — competed between Jan. 5 and Feb. 4.

"Despite diligent efforts to rectify the situation and obtain appropriate documentation, we were unable to meet the association's requirements," Wade said in the letter.

He continued: "We want to stress that this issue is not the fault of the player," Wade continued. "It was an honest misunderstanding regarding the documentation received, and we deeply regret any disappointment this may bring to our players, families and supports." 

Roosevelt is scheduled to play next at Indianola (1-18) on Monday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Class 4A substate 8 state qualifier.

-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports

Iowa high school basketball playoff scores (2/13/24)

Ames guard Will Thomas steals the ball from Des Moines Roosevelt forward Ja'Vion Bell in December / Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar, Ames Tribune, USA TODAY NETWORK