COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Before his final high school game tipped off, LeBron James walked slowly toward the Akron Saint Vincent-Saint Mary student section holding his finger in the air to signal "No. 1.''

	LeBron James ends his high school career as the only three-time Mr. Basketball in Ohio history.

Whether he was referring to himself or his team doesn't matter. Both are correct.

James, likely to be the top pick in this year's NBA draft, scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds as the Fighting Irish (25-1) won their third state championship in four years, beating Kettering Alter 40-36 Saturday in Ohio's Division II.

"It's just all joy,'' James said when asked whether he was relieved that the Irish had capped their stellar four-year run with another title. The 6-foot-8 senior was ruled ineligible by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for accepting two free sports jerseys from a Cleveland clothing store. A judge later reinstated him, reducing his punishment to a two-game suspension.

"I think of my career like a roller coaster,'' James said. "There's been ups, there's been downs, there's been double loops.

James seemed loose and carefree in the jammed postgame news conference. When asked about his plans, such as whether he'll declare for the NBA draft, James smiled, ducked down to the microphone and said, "What's next is ... party tonight.''

Alter had been beaten 73-40 by the Irish earlier this season. The Knights weren't about to get blown out again, slowing the game and refusing to let the Irish push the tempo.

It didn't matter. James was too spectacular and just too dominant when he needed to be. The only three-time Mr. Basketball in Ohio history was far better than everyone on the court.

James made a pair of free throws to put the Irish up 31-25 with about 5½ minutes left. The inbounds pass was tipped and James gathered it in and nailed a long 3-pointer, holding his follow-through and again holding one finger in the air.

After Laumann made a 3-pointer for Alter, James knifed through the defense and scored on a twisting layup.

The outcome looked like it was decided, but Alter wasn't done. Alter came within 40-36 with less than a minute to play on a three-point play by Adam Gill.

James then threw away a pass. Alter missed a 3-pointer and Romeo Travis was fouled after pulling down the rebound. He missed the free throw, but James got the rebound and passed to Dru Joyce III, who dribbled out the clock and threw the ball straight up toward the ceiling.

The game opened with SVSM's usual theatrics. James slipped past his man, took a pass down low and threw down a two-handed dunk 19 seconds in, drawing cheers and gasps from the state-tournament record crowd of 18,454.