OLD ORCHARD BEACH — For at least one night, the best York County basketball game of the 2009-2010 season wasn’t played inside of the Linnell Gym in Saco or the Steve White Gym in Biddeford.

Inside the gym of Old Orchard Beach High School, the boys basketball team put on a performance against Traip Academy a Hollywood screenwriter would love.

Trailing by as much as 10 points early in the contest, and not getting even until less than two minutes to play in regulation, the Seagulls made a dramatic comeback to force overtime, before eventually defeating the Rangers 72-68.

The win brings the Gulls record to 9-2 for the regular season, and carries their current winning streak to six games.

The star of the game for Old Orchard Beach was John Regis, the Gulls 6-2 senior center. Regis overcame the fouling out of fellow post partner Branden Ouellette midway through the fourth quarter to lead Old Orchard Beach to its eventual comeback by using his burly frame to fight double teams down low. Eighteen of Regis’ 23 points (the exception being three free throws and a turnaround jumper in the first half) were from beneath the basket.

Regis said the team, as well as the school, had been ready for this game for some time, including members of the team sporting “fohawks” as a sign of solidarity.

“This whole week we were getting pumped up, it was worth a lot of [Heal] points,” Regis said. “[Traip] is almost a rival to us. These guys are always a tough team, so we did something different.”

The Gulls trailed 14-5 to start the first quarter, as the team suffered  ball control and shooting problems. The Rangers used strong outside shooting, particularly from guard Nate Westman to keep their lead. Westman led all Traip scorers with 23 points.

However, the post play of Ouellette took control in the second quarter, but not without a price, as he had three early fouls. The Gulls would head to the locker room at halftime trailing 30-26.

Ouellette was tacked with another foul midway through the third quarter, forcing him to sit. Regis took over with his strong play, which inspired the Old Orchard Beach students to chant “Regis angry,” a reference to the comic book superhero The Incredible Hulk.

But Ouellette’s replacement, sophomore forward Terrell Patterson, also stepped up to be a force on rebounds and added five points of his own late in the fourth quarter.

Regis said younger players such as Patterson have contributed to the success of the team this season.

“In the beginning, we were a young team and we weren’t meshing,” Regis said. “Now we’ve got kids like Patterson stepping up. Now we mesh and everything is going good.”

The Gulls trailed 46-40 going into the fourth quarter. Ouellette caused his fifth foul with five minutes to play, forcing him to sit the remainder of the game. Ouellette finished with 19 points.

Traip however, had foul trouble of their own, as starters Jay Cuttle and Brian Goda each fouled out with three minutes to play, forcing backup players to keep a lead they would eventually drop.

With layups by Regis and guard Zach Gordon, the Gulls inched closer to tying the game. Finally, with over a minute to play, Patterson made a layup to tie the game 60-60, where it would remain.

The Gulls would win the game on the free throw line in overtime, making eight out of 10 shots. It would take the Gulls’ smallest player, 5-6 Corey Mahoney to make the biggest shots, the last two free throws to cement the 72-68 victory.

“It feels great,” Regis said of the win. “We’re on a winning streak, everything is going right. We’re exhausted, but we pulled out with a win.”

The victory gains major points for the Gulls in the Maine Principal Association Heal Point standings. Even with its record, Old Orchard Beach entered the game as the 10th ranked team in Maine Class C West, while Traip was ranked seventh. The Gulls are also on pace to break its 10-7 record from last season, which ended with a loss to Saint Dominic in the playoffs.

Old Orchard Beach head coach John Regan said senior leadership has guided the Gulls success.

“Senior leadership,” Regan said. “This group has been together for a while.”

Regan also gave credit to the rowdy Old Orchard Beach student section that made their voices heard throughout the entire contest.

“The crowd was great,” Regan said. “They were our sixth man.”

The Gulls will host Class B school Wells at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

-Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 317.