Poland appreciates tournament ride

The Bulldogs were surprised to hear that SVSM coach Dru Joyce made accusations against them.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- If you only pay attention to Thursday's score, St. Vincent-St. Mary's star or the distractions that surround a state semifinal, you might lose sight of Poland's season.
You might forget that the game meant something.
But if you saw the reddened eyes of Poland senior Jamie Dunn or junior Neil Harris, you would remember.
And if you saw 4,000 of Poland's fans give the Bulldogs a standing ovation after their 76-36 loss to SVSM, you'd remember.
Enjoyed the ride: "I'm just excited we got here," said senior David McGarry, Dunn's cousin who transferred to Poland from Tallmadge three years ago. "We're disappointed that we lost, but it's great to be in the state final four."
Poland had not lost a game in regulation this season. The Bulldogs made it to Columbus for just the second time in school history and won a record number of games, 23, in the process.
"I love these guys," Dunn said. "This has been a dream season. It didn't end the way we wanted, but I think we made a lot of people believe in us."
When Harris was replaced late in the game, he went up to each of the Poland seniors and gave them a hug.
"I think it will take an amazing team playing a perfect game to beat them," Poland coach Ken Grisdale said of the Irish.
The final score was not the day's only sour note.
Mysterious accusation: After the game, before any reporters had asked a question, SVSM coach Dru Joyce accused someone from Poland of badmouthing Irish senior LeBron James this week in an interview.
Several reporters asked Joyce what was said. He refused to say.
He then was asked if the comment came from a coach or a player.
"I don't want to get into that," he said.
When told about Joyce's comments, Grisdale looked stunned.
"Do you have any idea what he was talking about?" Grisdale asked. "We've been nothing but respectful this week. I have nothing but admiration for them. That was a total surprise."
Grisdale then shook his head and shrugged.
"I'm just not someone who says stuff like that," Grisdale said.
The loss -- and Joyce's comments -- will soon fade and several players said they look forward to someday telling their kids about playing against James.
For now, the Bulldogs will watch the rest of the weekend's tournament -- just like many of them have been doing for years.
And when people in Poland look back on the 2002 season, they'll remember it with pride.
It was the year when a football-crazed town fell in love with its basketball team.