Poland faces a big challenge to stop Ohio's Mr. Basketball

The Bulldogs will try to solve Jon Diebler of Upper Sandusky tonight.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
POLAND -- When Poland junior Ben Umbel was asked to name the highlight of his season so far, it didn't take him long to answer.
"Beating Canfield in the district championship," he said. "In my high school career, I haven't had the best success against Canfield's varsity. I lost the first four times.
"It felt really good to beat them."
That said, his best memory might be ahead.
Like they did five years ago, the Bulldogs will be playing a Division II state semifinal against the best player in the state. In 2002, it was LeBron James.
This year, it's Upper Sandusky senior Jon Diebler, an Ohio State recruit who was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball on Wednesday.
"They're a really good team with a really, really good player," Umbel said. "But I feel confident about it. I'm looking forward to playing at Ohio State in front of 20,000 people.
"Playing better competition is good for me and good for us."
Too young to remember
Most of the players on this year's team were too young to remember much about the 2002 state semifinal, which is probably a good thing.
James, then a junior at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, scored 32 points to lead the Irish to a 76-36 victory. It would have been the largest margin in Div. II state tournament history if Cincinnati Roger Bacon hadn't beaten Columbus Beechcroft 82-31 in the earlier game.
"I did go down and watch the game, but I don't remember much about it at all," junior Anthony DeFelice said. "All I remember was that LeBron James played."
That game drew a crowd of 18,371, which was a state record at the time. Today's game may not be quite as crowded, but Diebler's reputation, combined with his Ohio State commitment, should bring plenty of people to Value City Arena.
"What an amazing player," Poland coach Ken Grisdale said of Diebler. "Other than LeBron James, I don't know if I've ever had a bigger challenge in developing a game plan to slow down a player."
Chad Fender helps out
One of Grisdale's former players, Chad Fender, has helped out in practice this week, playing Diebler's role. Chad and his brother, Eric, were starters on the 2002 team. They also helped out before the district final win over Canfield, with Chad mimicking Cardinal guard Sean Baker.
Their father, Tom, is an assistant coach for the Bulldogs and played on Poland's only other state tournament team in 1972.
"Obviously, Chad isn't 6-7, but he can make all the shots and show us the passes we need to see," Grisdale said, adding that former player Jim Shurilla has also practiced with the team. "When you have a chance to use those guys, you definitely want to include them."
Poland's run to the state tournament has been a pleasant surprise for the Mahoning Valley, which hadn't fared well against top tournament competition this season.
The three area girls teams that won district titles (Rayen in Div. II, Crestview in Div. III and Columbiana in Div. IV) lost in the regional semifinals. The other two boys teams to capture district crowns (Campbell in Div. III and McDonald in Div. IV) also fell in the regional semis.
Poland snapped streak
But the Bulldogs snapped that streak, beating regional favorite Painesville Harvey in Thursday's semifinal, then toppling Cleveland Benedictine in Saturday's regional final.
The other three remaining Div. II teams are slightly more familiar with Columbus.
Upper Sandusky won a state title in 2005, Dayton Dunbar won last year's title and is making its third straight appearance and Columbus DeSales is making its second straight appearance. The Stallions also advanced in 1987, winning the Class AA title.
Those teams have garnered more attention this week, which is fine with Grisdale.
"People are going to be looking at the other three teams and that doesn't bother us," Grisdale said. "Any coach would love to be in this position.
"It was awesome the first time. To be able to do it a second time, we're elated."
scalzo@vindy.com