The magical run by the Old Orchard Beach boys basketball team has ended ”“ for now.

The Seagulls, who lost 69-38 to Dirigo in the Western Maine Class C regional final on Saturday night, ending their season with a 13-8 record, can look back on this season as a stepping stone.

For the past two seasons, Gulls head coach John Regan has had to deal with major overhaul on his varsity roster. In the process, he coached up his new players through the season, and led Old Orchard Beach to two more trips to the Western C playoffs with ventures into the semifinals or higher in each of the past three years. The Gulls will lose five seniors from this year’s squad, led by guard Andrew Fleury, who averaged 10 points per game this season. Also leaving are Mike Rague, Cody Stack, Cole Hamilton and Jeremy Legere.

For once, however, Regan will have four starters return when the season opens up later this year.

“We had one starter back in Fleury, and kids had to learn their roles and understand that,” Regan said. “Next year, we’re getting back four kids that start, so now it’s just putting the other pieces together.”

Leading the way for the Gulls is forward Quincy Grace, who will be a senior next season. Grace was the leading scorer for Old Orchard Beach this season, averaging 13.4 points per game.

“Quincy has just really come on, he really has,” Regan said. “From the beginning of the year, to now, he’s a different player. He’s taking the ball to the basket, he’s hitting his 15-footers, playing good defense and rebounding. He’s a force.”

The surprise of the season came in the playoffs, when sophomore guard Joe Gildard, who was averaging six points during the regular season, stepped his game up ”“ averaging 15 points per game in his four postseason appearances. It’s a performance that Regan did see coming, eventually, though perhaps not so early.

“I saw his athleticism, what he can do,” Regan said. “I thought (Saturday) you saw sometimes where the game kind of got above him a little bit. Those are things sophomores go through, but he’s going to be a very exciting player to watch for the next two years.”

Add to the mix Anthony Langella-Laws and Nick Carlin, both sound players in supporting roles, along with five returning on the bench, and the Gulls have the pieces to return to the regional final, and possibly, beyond. Old Orchard Beach has made four appearances to the Class C title game, with one win. The Gulls beat Fort Fairfield 82-65 in 1988.

But with the weapons returning next year, title No. 2 may not be far away.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.