When asked about what adding a second state championship to his resume would mean for him, Boothbay Region boys varsity basketball head coach I.J. Pinkham smiled.

“I think it would be fun,” he said with a nod.

But for the 36-year head coach, who will coaching Boothbay to its fifth state championship game, title No. 2 has less to do with him and more with the current cast of Seahawks.

“This is a great experience for the kids,” Pinkham said. “Not many guys get to go to a state championship game, so this should be exciting for them.”

Pinkham is no stranger to the big game; in 1979 he led the Seahawks to the state championship but lost to Blue Hill's George Stevens Academy, 79-71. In 2000 he faced Tony Hamlin's Penquis Patriots but the Seahawks fell, 58-45.

In 2001 Pinkham and the Seahawks would return to the state championship and avenge the previous year with a 71-66 victory over Piscataquis.

In 2007 he brought the Seahawks back to the state championships but Calais was able to pull out the 70-66 victory.

But those teams have very little to do with the current iteration except for two things; the uniforms sport blue and gold and Pinkham is drawing up the X's and O's.

A lot of things have to go your way,” he said. “When the (Western Class C Championship game) was tied, 43-43, and we switched from zone to man-to-man, that could have gone either way. It worked in our favor, but what if it didn't work? It shows you that a lot of things need to go your way.”

While talent certainly goes a long way, Pinkham said luck carries the same weight.

“We were lucky this year; we didn't have any injuries and we had a very favorable bracket,” he said. “We played some good teams in our bracket, but at this point in the season it's only good teams left.”

This year's team also varies from previous championship-caliber Seahawks teams.

“That team (the 2001 Seahawks) was much older,” he said. “We started four seniors and one junior. This year we have four seniors, three juniors and five sophomores.”

With such a young team, the success the Seahawks have already had and anything additional will only help them in the future, Pinkham said.

“Now, they know they can do this,” he said. “They know what it takes to get this far. Now, they see what it takes to win their class. They see what it takes to make it to the state championship game.”

Whether this is a one-time trip or the building of something bigger, Pinkham said he just wants them to enjoy the ride.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.