Close call

James ovecomes injury to lead Irish to state semis

LeBron James and the Irish were tied at halftime before rallying for the victory. AP

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- LeBron James wasn't about to let a torn fingernail stop him from a fourth straight trip to the state final four.

Playing with a bandage over his right index finger, James scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday to lead Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to a 69-59 victory over Ottawa-Glandorf in a Division II regional final.

It was the closest game of this year's tournament for the No. 1 Fighting Irish.

James was tentative much of the first half, saying he wasn't sure how well he could dribble because of the injured finger. But with the game tied at 26 at halftime, James knew he had to take over no matter how his finger felt.

"I think it bothered me more in my head," said James, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft. "I played with it hurt or it was go home."

James needs just two more victories to win his third state title in four years -- the only tournament loss coming in last year's state championship game.

There still is a chance that James could face another hurdle in court this week, though.

Summit County Judge James Williams is considering a request to dismiss James' appeal of its ruling that declared him ineligible for getting two "throwback" jerseys -- valued at $845 -- for free from a clothing store.

James was ruled ineligible in January by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for accepting the jerseys, but his appeal has kept him playing.

There is a strong possibility Williams could schedule a hearing on the dismissal request before the state finals next weekend, said Fred Nance, James' attorney.

James spent much of Saturday's game trying to set up his teammates, but they told him to take over in the fourth quarter when the Titans cut the lead to 43-35.

"They looked at me and said, you're our leader," James said.

James, a 6-foot-8 senior, scored 10 points in the final quarter, putting the game away with a pair of thunderous dunks -- the first off a missed shot and the second on a reverse jam that stretched the lead to 63-48 with two minutes remaining.

James celebrated the regional title with his teammates and then was the center of a mad scramble, signing newspapers, ticket stubs, posters -- anything shoved in front of him.

The crowd surged when he tossed the pen and his sweatbands into the mob.

This was one of the few times this season that an Ohio team kept it close against St.Vincent-St. Mary.

"We pushed LeBron," said Titans forward Eric Pollitz, who had 21 points. "He had to play real hard in the second half."

Kevin Unterbrink had 14 points and Tim Pollitz added 11 for Ottawa-Glandorf, which outplayed and outhustled the Fighting Irish in the first half. It was the first time all season that St.Vincent-St. Mary (24-1) didn't lead at the half, and the 26 first half points also was a season low.

Ottawa-Glandorf (22-4) scored the first seven points and grabbed a 16-9 lead after the opening quarter.

St. Vincent-St. Mary had four straight turnovers to begin the game. James spent much of the first half frustrated, scowling and shaking his head while looking up at the scoreboard and into the crowd.

Still, he had 10 points and looked to score more when his team fell behind 11-1. Dru Joyce III added 19 points and Romeo Travis scored 14 for the Fighting Irish.

He bent back the nail on his right index finger Thursday night when his hand hit the rim on a blocked a shot late in the first half.

The sellout crowd 8,998 at the University of Toledo was a first for basketball since James played in the same arena a year ago.

Tickets were selling for $50 outside Savage Hall.

 

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