Mohegan — Sunday mornings — "easy," according to the Commodores — probably aren't the time slot most kids envision during those backyard moments dreaming of a state championship.

But then, the boys' basketball players of Old Lyme can find some inspiration right there in their own school about how mornings can be plenty magical. The Old Lyme girls won their last state championship on a Mohegan morning back in 2009 and even enjoyed the early rising.

"I just wanted to get it over with," girls' coach Don Bugbee said that day. "But now we have the rest of the day to celebrate."

Will the same fate befall the boys? They'll know by the noon hour Sunday. The third-ranked Wildcats meet top-seeded Innovation at 10:30 Sunday morning for the CIAC Division V state championship.

"We'll be ready," guard Ray Doll said after Wednesday's 69-53 win over Somers in the semifinals. "We're excited already."

This is the first state championship game appearance in the history of the program. It is not, however, the first championship game appearance. Old Lyme lost to Cromwell in the Shoreline Conference title game last month, an outcome that's still a bit prickly to the players.

"We know what that felt like," Doll said, "and we don't want to fee that again."

Which is why the Wildcats were tempered after Wednesday's win over Somers.

"It's pretty special for all of us," Old Lyme coach Kirk Kaczor said. "These kids wanted this all year long. We talked about trying to get to the Sun. The goal is to not just get to the Sun, but obviously to try and win that game."

Junior Aedan Using was even more blunt.

"We're not satisfied with this," he said after the Somers victory.

Innovation, is a New Britain-based magnet school whose full name is the "Academy of Science and Innovation." The Ravens, who won the Capital Region Athletic League this season, are 23-5 and led by 6-foot-4 senior Lenny Okonya, 6-3 junior L.J. Hazelwood and 6-0 senior Lester Emanuel.

The teams have a common opponent: Valley Regional. Old Lyme defeated Valley 59-50 on Dec. 20, before Innovation defeated Valley in the semifinals, 42-38.

m.dimauro@theday.com