Tonight, Woodland Regional High School may be a part of basketball history. Tip off is set for 7pm as Woodland will be playing Sacred Heart High School on our home court. There has been much anticipation for this game from not only the team but the students as well.
A large crowd has been anticipated for tonight’s match up, and many are especially excited to catch a glimpse of Sacred Heart’s Mustapha Heron in action. Heron, one of the leading Sacred Heart Varsity players, is having what can only be considered an all-star season so far. According to Maxpreps, Mustapha Heron is the 23rd overall prospect in the 2016 class by 247Sports and he has already committed to playing for Auburn University next fall.
During the 2014-2015 season, Heron had an average of around 22 points each game and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Woodland knows that Heron as well as the rest of the team will be tough competition and Junior Richard Rousseau understands that means focusing on defense.
“My goals for tonight are to try my best to box out and to get rebounds and to shut down Mustapha the best I could,” said Rosseau. “I expect it to be difficult scoring because they’re a lot taller than us.”
Last year, Sacred Heart had an undefeated record of 29-0 and won a Class S state title. This year, they look to do more of the same as they are currently ranked number 1 in the state and undefeated again at 7-0. This year, however, they will have to go through a very solid Class M group to get there.
Regardless of the sensationalism Heron brings to the game, Woodland Senior captain, Tyler Collodel, notes that preparation is going to be key to keeping the Hawks focused and aggressive.
“We will be taking it a quarter at a time,” said Collodel. “I know it’s going to be really hard and the odds are against us but we’re just going to take it one quarter at a time.”
Woodland enters tonight’s game after sweeping Hartford Magnet and Derby last week.
Caitlyn is a Staff Reporter at Hawk Headlines, and has spent one full semester at Hawk Headlines. She once bought a betta fish without telling her mom, and describes herself as a "rebellious reporter".
