Anytime you lose in basketball at this point of the season, it can be considered heartbreaking. But consider the plight of the Ayala girls team, which was one win from the state finals before losing in triple overtime to Manhattan Beach Mira Costa 72-64 in a Division II Southern California final at the L.A. Sports Arena on Saturday afternoon.A

Ayala sophomore Rhema Gardner (15 points, 11 rebounds) was injured in the first overtime and did not return.

Only one San Bernardino County or Inland Valley basketball team has ever reached the state finals: the 1986 Chino girls team.