The Barrington High School girls basketball team will play in the Division I semifinals on Sunday, March 8, after the St. Raphael's team withdrew from the tournament.

Tenth-seeded Barrington had been scheduled to play against second-seeded St. Raphael's on Saturday night. But on Friday morning, officials announced that St. Raphael's had withdrawn from the tournament.

The Pawtucket-based private school has been closed all week and will be closed next week also, as officials work to contain the potential spread of coronavirus. Three people from St. Raphael's Academy tested positive for the virus since returning home from a school trip to Italy. 

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said the St. Raphael's Academy girls basketball team should be available for the state's open tournament later this month, once the self-quarantine for identified students is over.

Mr. Messore said the decision to withdraw from the tournament makes sense, considering the school has halted all classes and extra-curricular activities. He added that Barrington officials and others from across the state are very sympathetic to the situation facing St. Raphael's.

"What St. Ray's is going through, any other school could be going through," he said. 

Barrington High School girls basketball coach Stephen Lenz also commented on the situation.

"My coaching staff and players certainly feel for the entire St. Rays basketball community… both the team and Coach Drape have had an incredible regular season and we wish them the best of luck in the State Tournament," said Coach Lenz.

Barrington, which ended the regular season with a 6-12 league record, upset Johnston in the first round of the Division I tournament. St. Raphael's ended the regular season with a 16-2 record in Division I and 22-2 record overall. They received a first-round bye in the tournament. They were ranked third in the statewide power rankings, trailing only LaSalle and South Kingstown. 

Barrington will play against South Kingstown in the Division I semifinals on Sunday. 

The state's open tournament is scheduled to begin play later this month.

The St. Raphael Academy boys hockey team has also withdrawn from postseason play.