CANTON, Ohio -- LeBron James shut down everyone except the little kids asking for an autograph.

James sat at the scorer's table for 10 minutes following the game and signed his name on programs, hats and jerseys. He even posed for pictures with some adoring fans.

Even the ones from Hoban.

James scored 24 points and stopped his arch rival's top scorer Tuesday night, leading No. 1 Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to an 80-48 romp over Archbishop Hoban in a state tournament game.

The nation's best player showed he can also play defense, limiting June Wilder, Hoban's leading scorer (16.7 points), to just three points on 1-of-11 shooting.

"It doesn't matter to me if I go scoreless," said James, who came in averaging 31.4 points per game. "My man had three points, and that's their best player. That's what I care about."

James also took time to sign dozens of autographs for fans waiting outside the locker room afterward.

"I want a line, right here, and right here," the 18-year-old superstar told the crowd before grabbing a chair on a riser near midcourt. "Where's the kids?"

James didn't score in the first period, but finished 11-of-17 from the floor and added three jaw-dropping dunks.

However, James' most impressive play came when he raced across the baseline and perfectly timed a block, sending Jake Holland's 3-pointer attempt about 30 feet and seven rows into the stands.

"I don't know how I got it," he said. "I have no idea. I ran all the way from the other side. I got up as high as I could, and somehow I got it."

The Fighting Irish (20-1), ranked No. 1 by USA Today, advanced to Saturday's district final and will play the winner of Thursday's game between Buchtel and Central-Hower.

Tuesday's game was moved to Canton's Memorial Fieldhouse -- a couple long TD passes from the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- to accommodate another large crowd eager to see James.

Scalpers asked $40 for $5 tickets and a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 5,000 squeezed in to see one of James' final games before he goes to the NBA.

James started slowly, missing both of his field-goal attempts and two free throws in a surprisingly scoreless first quarter for the 6-foot-8 senior.

St. Vincent-St. Mary led only 13-12 after one.

But James made his first jumper of the second period, and after being fouled while powering inside for a layup, James flexed his muscles in front of Hoban's student section.

When he stepped to the foul line, Hoban's fans began chanting "Throwback Jerseys", a reference to the sports jerseys James accepted from a clothing store that briefly cost him his eligibility.

James made his free throw and shot a menacing stare at the fans seated behind the Hoban bench.

Seconds later, he grabbed an alley-oop pass with his right hand and dunked it to give the Fighting Irish a 22-12 lead.

"As long as we're winning, I can do that," James said. "If we're losing, I can't. I'm just trying to have fun."

James blew the game open by making 24-of-29 shots during an 18:55 stretch and contesting everything Hoban threw up.

"They shot 32 percent from the field, and we shot 60 (percent)," James said. "That's what it's all about."

With his team leading 76-44, James went to the bench with 2:30 left and ripped off the bandages his school requires him to wear to cover the tattoos on his biceps.