OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Lake Region and Old Orchard Beach boys’ basketball teams have a combined one starter back from last season. Both were playoff teams a year ago, but were expected to endure some lumps in the early going this season.

The Lakers, without a single starter back from the team that won the Class B state title last season, showed they are a little further along with a 54-48 win Wednesday night.

“This is a big win,” Lake Region Coach John Mayo said. “This is game number five for most of these guys on the varsity level … this is a big deal to come down (here) and get some momentum and get a win against a good team.”

The Lakers (2-3) clamped down on defense in the second half – allowing only 17 points after surrendering 21 in the second quarter alone – and hit free throws in the fourth quarter.

After Ian Regan scored on a layup off the fourth quarter inbounds play to give the Seagulls a 42-40 lead, the Lakers reeled off eight of the next nine points for a 48-43 advantage. Lake Region forced three turnovers in the run, the final resulting in a fast-break layup for True Meyers off a Tristen Chaine pass.

Old Orchard Beach (2-3) got to within two points, 48-46, on Brian Davis’ twisting baseline drive with 3:20 left in the game, but Chaine (14 points) hit 4 of 6 free throws and Tyler Walker (16 points, 7 rebounds) went 2 for 2 in the final 1:53 to hold off the home team.

“We played really good defense at the end of the game,” said Chaine. “As long as we get to the (free throw) line and we get (the other team) in foul trouble it will be good for us.”

Regan led the Seagulls with a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Braiser, who saw a lot of time off the bench filling in teammates in foul trouble, scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.

Old Orchard Beach Coach Mike Burke, whose team went 14-6 last year and lost in the Class C South quarterfinals, said it was a tough letdown following a last-second 55-33 win over Poland on Tuesday night.

“We went to Poland last night and got a pretty emotional win at the buzzer,” he said. “We played back-to-back games, so I am proud of my guys for their effort. Unfortunately we came up short tonight.

“(Headed) into (the holiday) break, going one for two was a reasonable goal for us. We achieved that.”

Davis, one of Old Ochard Beach’s leading scorers, was forced to the bench with less than a minute left in the first quarter with his third foul. Fellow starters Cody Blanchette and Thomas Fregeau both had two fouls before halftime.

“I think there’s an element of frustration when you try to find a rhythm as a player and then you pick up those fouls and it turns into forcing some things,” Burke said.

Mayo added: “I think getting (Old Orchard Beach) into foul trouble shows how aggressive we are offensively, trying to getting ball inside and attacking in the transition game.”