Skipper’s maiden voyage Alley takes helm for Jonesport-Beals girls

Growing up with and playing for one of the most successful basketball coaches in Maine history, Skipper Alley picked up a few things about coaching basketball.

But it wasn’t the ins and outs of setting screens, man-to-man defenses or proper free-throw form that Alley took from his father, legendary Jonesport-Beals boys coach Ordman Alley.

“Watching my father, I learned how to win,” said Skipper Alley, whose given name is Ordman Jr. but goes by his nickname. “I realized that you were accountable for your actions and over the years I see what you can accomplish with hard work. He always seemed to stress that you were accountable for what you did and as long as you worked hard, anything was possible.”

Now the girls varsity coach at Jonesport-Beals, Skipper Alley is hoping to apply those lessons in his first varsity post.

Alley was hired for the job in the offseason. Last year’s varsity coach, Adam Merchant, is now Alley’s assistant. At Jonesport-Beals, every coaching position is opened up for applications every year.

Ordman Alley, whose Royals teams won nine state championships, 13 Eastern Maine titles and more than 550 games in 39 years, retired in September 2005.

Skipper Alley, who graduated from Jonesport-Beals in 1986, played on Class D state championship teams in 1983 and 1985, Eastern Maine runner-up teams in 1984 and 1986.

Now a fisherman, former school board member, and youth basketball coach, Alley had always thought about moving up to the varsity level.

“You always have second thoughts whether to apply or not,” he said. “When it opened up I thought I could help and I thought I had a lot I could bring to the job as far as knowledge and experience, being involved in basketball my entire life.”

So far, Alley has coached the Royalettes to a 3-4 record – not bad for a team coming off a 1-17 season.

Jonesport-Beals, a school of about 80 students, plays an extremely tough schedule with games against strong Class C contenders Washington Academy of East Machias, Narraguagus of Harrington and Calais, along with defending Class D state champ Woodland, improved Machias and Lubec programs, and Shead of Eastport.

“Every night is a test for us,” Alley said. “… They’re hard-working girls. I told them when the season started, just give me 100 percent and listen, and we’ll see what happens. And they have, every one of them. They’re at practice on time and they work hard when they’re there.”