AT A GLANCE Boys state basketball

DIVISION II
Who: Poland (23-2) vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (22-3).
When: 2 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Tickets: Sold out. Parking is $5.
If you go: Take I-76 west to I-71 south to state route 315 to the Lane Avenue exit. Turn left onto Lane. At the first intersection, turn left onto Fred Taylor Drive and you will see the arena on your right.
St. Vincent-St. Mary starters: F Romeo Travis, 6-6, junior, 12.6 points per game; G Dru Joyce, 5-9, junior, 9.3; G Chad Mraz, 5-10, senior, 6.6; G Sekou Lewis, 6-5, senior, 7; G LeBron James, 6-7, junior, 28.
Poland starters: F Neil Harris, 6-1, junior, 5.1; C David McGarry, 6-2, senior, 11.3; G Chad Fender, 6-1, freshman, 10.4; G Lou DaVanzo, 6-2, senior, 5.8; G Jamie Dunn, 6-1, senior, 13.7.
St. Vincent-St. Mary scouting report: After back-to-back state titles in Div. III, the Irish -- and Sports Illustrated cover boy James -- moved up to Div. II this year. The top-ranked Irish are 75-4 over the past three years, with all four losses coming to out-of-state teams. James, a 6-7 junior guard, was the first sophomore to win Mr. Basketball in Ohio last year. The top-ranked Irish also won a state title in 1984. St. V-M beat Casstown Miami East 63-53 last year, using an 11-2 run in the final 2:50 to put the game away. The Irish finished fifth in the final USA Today national poll and became the 18th Ohio school to win consecutive championships. The Irish could tie Columbus Wehrle (1988-90) and Dayton Stivers (1928-30) for the most consecutive state titles with three. St. V-M averages 76 points per game and gives up 56.5.
Poland scouting report: Poland is making its second appearance at state. The Bulldogs lost in the state semifinal in 1972. The Bulldogs have won 18 straight, including wins over Canton South and Akron East in last weekend's regional at the Canton Civic Center. Senior Jamie Dunn, last year's Metro Athletic Conference player of the year, leads the Bulldogs with 14 points per game. Senior David McGarry averages 12 points and six rebounds per game and junior Neil Harris averages 3.4 steals per game. Senior Lou DaVanzo and sophomore Chad Fender add scoring, but the Bulldogs are most known for their defense. Junior Bill Bartos and junior Eric Fender add depth off the bench for Poland, which rotates the seven players. Harris and McGarry will need to stay out of foul trouble if Poland expects to keep up with the athletic Irish. Grisdale is making his first appearance at state in his nine years at Poland. Assistant coach Tom Fender -- formerly head coach at Fitch -- was a point guard on the 1972 Poland team. The Bulldogs average 61.2 points per game and give up 45.2.
DIVISION IV
Who: Bristol (24-1) vs. Delphos St. John's (19-6).
When: 9 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Schottenstein Center.
Tickets: $7.
Delphos St. John's starters: F Mike Anthony, 6-2, junior, 8.6 points per game; F Ryan Holdgreve, 6-5, senior, 5.4; C Keith Recker, senior, 8.5; G Nate Kaus, 6-1, junior, 14; G Brian Clark, 6-1, junior, 13.
Bristol starters: F David Colley, 6-0, senior, 5.9; F Joe Papp, 6-0, senior, 4.9; G John King, 5-11, senior, 18; G Craig Giesy, 6-3, junior, 18.9; G Sam Ratcliffe, 6-1, senior, 5.9.
St. John's scouting report: The Blue Jays are making their second straight trip to state and 11th overall. The Blue Jays won state titles in 1949 and '83 and lost to Tipp City Bethel in last year's Div. IV title game. St. John's girls team won the state title last weekend. The Blue Jays average 61.2 points per game and give up 54.
Bristol scouting report: The Panthers are making their second trip to state, losing to Upper Scioto Valley in the semifinals in 1994. Northeast Inland District player of the year King scored 37 in the regional semifinal win over Sebring and 16 points in a win over Strasburg-Franklin in the regional final. Giesy had 18 points against Strasburg. The Panthers went 19-1 in 2000-01, but lost in the sectional opener to Maplewood.
-Joe Scalzo