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| Sacred Heart will be without Raheem Solomon when it begins its quest for a fourth straight state title. |
Sacred Heart boys basketball is going for a fourth straight state title, but it will be doing so without one very key component.
Junior Raheem Solomon, who was named NVL Tournament MVP after a big performance on one knee in the final against Holy Cross, will not play in the Class L State Tournament. Solomon is out for the season, according to a blog post written by Joe Palladino of the Waterbury Republican-American. Palladino reported that Solomon had surgery Friday to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.
The loss of Solomon is a big one for Sacred Heart. When the Hearts needed a key bucket in the NVL final win over the Crusaders, it was Solomon to the rescue. Solomon’s ability to affect the game in so many ways — ranging from his driving ability and long-range shooting on offense to his knack for getting in the passing lanes on defense — will be sorely missed.
Sacred Heart has some terrific players, led by seniors Legend Johnson and Courie Stevenson, but it will take a lot for the Hearts to win a fourth straight state title.
Top-seeded Sacred Heart opens Class L on Tuesday at home against No. 32 Joel Barlow from the South-West Conference. The opening tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall.
The Sacred Heart girls will host Kolbe Cathedral in a 7:30 Class S quarterfinal game afterward.
