Boys Basketball State semifinal preview

POLAND VS. CHILLICOTHE

When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Ohio State’s Value City Arena
Tickets: $12-$15
Other semifinal: St. Paris Graham (26-0) vs. Toledo Libbey (23-2).
State final: 10:45 a.m. Saturday

Poland (25-0)

80Lakeview64
95Chaney49
97East68
85Campbell59
87Niles45
80Fitch60
82Boardman80
99Struthers43
91Howland41
81East Liverpool44
94Salem54
87Canfield72
100Campbell72
99Niles75
98Struthers71
84Howland59
95East Liverpool47
86Canfield71
94Springfield53
95Salem64

Tournament

103Southeast55
93Lakeview66
72West Branch71
67Perry60
77Benedictine63

Scouting report: Poland, which was ranked first in the final Associated Press poll, is 0-3 in three previous state tournament appearances (1972, 2002, 2007). The Bulldogs are led by first-team All-Ohioan Ben Umbel, who averages 15 points per game along with five assists, five rebounds and seven steals. Umbel has expanded his role offensively the last few games, but his strength is still creating havoc on defense. “He’s a crook,” said Poland coach Ken Grisdale, referring to Umbel’s ability to get steals. “But I love him.” Special mention All-Ohioan Anthony DeFelice averages 12 points and 5.5 assists per game and holds season and career records for assists at Poland. Sophomore Niko Fatimus, who is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, averages 13.5 points per game. Sophomore Ben Donlow averages 11 points and seven rebounds per game. Senior David White, a 6-4 defensive specialist, averages seven points and five rebounds per game. Those five will start. Senior Bryan Kosec (five points, four rebounds) and sophomores Ben Brocker (5 ppg), David Baker (8 ppg) and Luke Wollet (6 ppg) will see plenty of time. Grisdale, who earned Ohio co-coach of the year honors on Monday, substitutes every two to three minutes. The Bulldogs use pressure and almost constant trapping to frustrate opponents, creating turnovers to generate fast-break points on the other end. Grisdale, the winningest coach in school history, is 248-101 (71 percent) in 15 years at Poland. Assistant coach Tom Fender, a former head coach at Fitch High, played on the 1972 team and has been an assistant on the other three state tournament teams. His sons, Eric and Chad, were starters on the 2002 team and are now assistants for the Bulldogs. Former Hubbard coach Tom King has assisted Poland during the offseason as well as serving as an advance scout during the season.

Chillicothe (23-2)

68Cols. Brookhaven73
51Gallia Academy26
68Wheelersburg42
74Ironton28
71Jackson26
83Cin. North College Hill70
79Portsmouth51
76Logan41
85Gallia Academy30
63Marietta51
59Newark53
66Ironton40
67Vincent Warren32
70Dayton Dunbar62
104Jackson40
59Zanesville58
93Portsmouth70
104Athens37
88Waverly58
63Zanesville68

Tournament

78Hillsboro50
77Marietta47
49Logan Elm48
89Vinton County42
71Byesville Meadowbrook49

Scouting report: Chillicothe, which was ranked second in the final AP poll, is 0-2 in two previous state tournament appearances (1924, 1930). The Cavaliers are led by first team All-Ohio guard Anthony Hitchens, a senior who averages 21 points per game, along with three steals, three rebounds and three assists. Second team All-Ohioan Ray Chambers averages 15.5 points per game and nine rebounds. The other three starters are Stuart Beverly (9 ppg), Caleb Knights (6 ppg, 4 apg) and Seth Dawes (8 ppg). The main subs are Ron Smith (4 ppg), Jordan Benson, Michael Turner, Mike Newman and Nathan Woodworth. The Cavaliers are outscoring teams 74-48 this season. Like Poland, the Cavaliers like to play up tempo, using pressure defense to generate offense. Expect a lot of man-to-man, although they’ll trap at times. Offensively, Hitchens is the key. He can create off the dribble, either scoring or setting things up for his teammates.

Joe Scalzo