WARWICK —  St. Raphael Academy has withdrawn from two winter sports season postseason tournaments because of the school's connection with the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the state.

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League announced Friday afternoon, March 6, St. Raphael contacted it as well as the other schools participating in the Division I girls' basketball and Division II boys' hockey tournaments to notify them of its decision to drop out of the events.

St. Raphael is currently in the midst of a two-week closure and several members of its community are under self-quaratine after two faculty members and a student tested positive in someway for COVID-19 upon their return from a February vacation week trip to Europe, including Italy.

As a result of St. Raphael's withdrawal, Barrington, the Saints' quarterfinal opponent, will advance to play South Kingstown in the semifinals of the girls' basketball tournament.  South Kingstown,  the opponent of the St. Raphael/Wheeler/Providence Country Day co-op, will advance to the semifinals of the Division II boys' hockey playoffs.

"On behalf of our member schools, the RIIL deeply appreciates and recognizes the difficult decision by St. Raphael Academy to withdraw from these post-season tournaments," said Tom Mezzanotte, RIIL executive director.