Girls’ basketball: Mira Costa wins in triple OT

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Mira Costa scored all the points in the third overtime to beat Ayala, 72-64, in the Southern California Regional Division II final at the Sports Arena.

Mira Costa will go to the state finals next week in Sacramento against either Sacramento St. Francis or San Jose Archbishop Mitty.

The Mustangs actually scored the final 11 points of the game. They trailed in the second overtime, 64-61, with 50 seconds left. A three-point play by Mikah Maly-Karros with 31 seconds left tied it at 64-64, and then Ayala’s rushed three-point attempt by Rebekah Gardner was missed.

That set the stage for the final four minutes of the 44-minute game. It was no contest at that point. Missed shots and unforced turnovers doomed Ayala. Mira Costa made six of eight from the free-throw line at the at the end.

-- Martin Henderson