BANGOR – For the first time in at least three decades, the “Runnin’ Royals” of Jonesport-Beals haven’t been interested in running much this season.

Graduating four of five starters and fielding a starting lineup that basically consists of five power forwards forced even Ordie Alley, the biggest proponent of the wide-open attack the state has ever known, to change his playbook.

Alley’s adaptation to a half-court attack paid off with another trip to the regional semifinals as his Royals slowed the tempo against mercurial Central Aroostook, led most of the way and made a living at the free-throw line as they upset the Panthers of Mars Hill 78-62 in overtime.

Big man Alvin Beal was just that Monday afternoon as his 33-point, 20-rebound effort led the 12-8 Royals to the Eastern Maine Class D quarterfinal win. Jonesport-Beals will meet the winner of Monday night’s Katahdin-Greenville game in an 8:35 p.m. semifinal Thursday.

The Royals led most of the game but had to withstand a big CAHS comeback in the fourth quarter, when the Panthers outscored the Royals 8-2 to take a 56-53 lead with 1:50 left. After going 3-for-7 from the line in the fourth quarter, Beal had a chance to tie it with 18 seconds left. He hit both shots to make it 57-57.

After a CAHS timeout, the Panthers’ A.J. Wiggins scored his only points of the game to make it 59-57 with three seconds left. Teammate Bryan Grew drove to the top of the key for a last shot, but he lost the ball and then recovered it during a scramble on the left block. While lying on his back, he shoveled the ball to Wiggins, who scored from the block with a bank shot.

With 2.6 seconds left, Beal took a long inbounds pass from the opposite baseline to the left wing. The pass was high and both he and Grew lunged at it. Grew was called for a foul with 2.3 seconds left and Beal went to the line.

“I was very surprised they called that. … Very surprised,” said Beal. “I thought ‘Oh no! I missed the ball!’ I fell on the floor and I was like ‘No!’ Then the ref blew the whistle and I was relieved.”

Beal hit both shots to retie the game. A half-court heave by the Panthers missed the rim and it was on to overtime, where it would be all Beal for the first 60 seconds.

First he scored on an offensive rebound to make it 61-59, then he grabbed a defensive board. He was fouled on the other end and hit both shots. Following another CAHS miss and Beal board, he drew another foul – this one the fifth on Grew, the third CAHS starter to foul out of the game – and made two more free throws.

ROYALS 78, PANTHERS 62 (OT)

Jonesport-Beals (12-8) Central Aroostook (14-6)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Libby 0 0 0 0 0 Woodworth 3 15 2 2 11

Manheim 0 0 0 0 0 Clockedile 1 2

Mitchell 5 9 1 4 11 Wiggins 1 6 2

Alley 0 0 0 0 0 Bradstreet 4 11

Dyer 0 0 0 0 0 Grew 5 11 7 10 19

Kelley 1 6 4 6 6 Tapley 0 2 0

Al.Beal 8 17 17 21 33 Collins 0 4 1

Durkee 0 2 0 1 0 Grivois 0 1 0

Ab.Beal 6 15 10 11 24 Walsh 1 2 2

Berry 0 0 0 0 0 Kilcollins 0 1

D.Beal 0 3 0 0 0 Codrey 4 13 13

Merchant 1 4 2 4 4

Chandler 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 21 56 34 47 78 19 63 19 28 62

Jonesport-Beals 17 31 41 59 78

Central Aroostook 14 24 36 59 62

3-pt. goals: Jonesport-Beals (2-6): Ab. Beal 2-4, Kelley 0-2; Central Aroostook (5-17): Woodworth 3-11, Grew 2-4, Tapley 0-1, Collins 0-1.