Coaching experience may aid WM champs

When it comes to state championship matchups, I.J. Pinkham and Kevin Jenkins have a lot in common.

They’re both longtime Maine high school boys basketball coaches who have been with their respective schools for at least 17 years, they’ve both led their teams to the pinnacle of ultimate success by winning regional titles within three years of being hired, and they’ve both had to deal with disappointment in their first two trips to state championship games.

They’re also both now preparing their teams for state game appearances – Pinkham with two-time defending Class C west champ Boothbay and Jenkins with two-time defending west and defending state Class B champ Gorham.

Pinkham leads his 18-3 Boothbay Region Seahawks into the Bangor Auditorium against unbeaten (21-0) east champ Piscataquis of Guilford Friday (9:40 p.m. approximate start after girls game). Jenkins’ 17-5 Rams will take on east champ Camden Hills (19-2) on the Augusta Civic Center floor at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday.

Class C – This is Pinkham’s third state final in 25 seasons. Will this time be the charm for the Seahawks, who are 0-2 in gold-ball games? Pinkham says it won’t be easy against a tall, athletic, quick and deep Pirates squad.

“What are my thoughts about them? Well, we thought about not getting on the bus,” Pinkham said with a chuckle. “He definitely has more talent than I do. I’ll say that, but we play a lot of good teams in our conference and the kids aren’t in awe of them.”

Boothbay features tall, physical frontcourt players who rebound very well and veteran guards who react coolly under pressure.

Senior 6-foot-4 forward Bobby Deetjen has averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game, 6-1 senior forward Mike Leighton (19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds) has come back strong after missing most of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament (knee) injury, and junior Bill Hardwick is a 6-2, 220-pound center averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 boards a game.

“We were bigger than most teams we played, but I don’t think we’re bigger than this team so that’s a concern,” said Pinkham of the Pirates, who are led by 6-6 senior center and East tournament MVP Buddy Leavitt.

Boothbay is led by senior point guard Ian McConnell, a three-year starter averaging 10.1 points and 8.2 assists per game. The Harvard-bound student-athlete makes all the on-court calls and adjustments. It’s on his shoulders to recognize and thwart the multiple defenses the versatile Pirates will probably throw at the Hawks.

“They used seven different defenses in one of the games we scouted last week,” said Pinkham. “I would much prefer if they were a half-court man-to-man team the whole game. At least I’d know what to prepare for. We’re going to have to be able to recognize quickly and get into the right offenses.”

Pinkham’s team isn’t quite as deep as PCHS with just three regulars off the bench in 5-8 sophomore guard Todd Hyson, 6-0 senior swingman Kelly Farrin, and 6-3 sophomore guard Joe Parkhurst.

The Pirates are already formidable with Leavitt, who can score inside, outside, and on the run, but they also feature great guards in junior starters Kyle Pulkkinen and Keith Dawson, and senior reserve Scott DeCastro, plus good size beside Leavitt with starting forwards Ben Smith and Randy Burgess, at 6-3 and 6-2, respectively.

“They’ve put together a pretty solid group there,” Pinkham said. “In Class C and D, teams like that don’t come along very often.”

Class B – Jenkins’ task is similar to good friend Pinkham’s as he has to find a way to neutralize Camden’s depth, size, and speed.

The Rams’ main tools to do that are forwards Ryan Nealey, Andy Jenkins (Jenkins’ son) and Kenrick Ballantyne, point guard David Willis, and off-guard Joel Kershner – all juniors. In fact, the 6-4 Ballantyne is the only returning regular player from last season’s state championship team, which graduated all five starters.

The 6-3 Nealey was the west B tourney MVP after scoring 32 in last Friday’s championship game.

The Windjammers feature plenty of depth and senior leadership starting with co-captains John Knutson and Brian Fitzpatrick. Knutson, a 6-5 forward, was named East B tourney MVP and the 6-3 Fitzpatrick joined him on the all-tourney team.

“We’re a very versatile team,” Knutson said. “We can go full-court and run or calm it down and play half-court. We can beat ’em on the perimeter and beat ’em inside.”

The other starters are senior point guard Nick Wilson along with 6-5 junior forwards Tyler Warren and Grant Lippman. Head coach Jeff Hart regularly 10 deep in his regular playing rotation, so the starters get plenty of rest.

This is Gorham’s fifth state final appearance under Jenkins, who is 2-2 coming in, and Camden’s fourth with Hart (1-2) and third in the last four years.