ALBANY — Tori Dixon’s prayer was answered.

Dixon heaved a shot from just across half-court that found its mark at the buzzer to give the Vinton County Lady Vikings a 40-39 win over the Athens Lady Bulldogs Tuesday in the Division II sectional tournament.

Vinton County (10-10) will now play South Point at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals at Alexander High School.

Jamie Sindelar was fouled with two seconds left and hit both free throws to give Athens a 39-37 lead.

Vinton Co. 7 8 12 13 = 40

Athens 15 7 9 8 = 39

VINTON COUNTY (10-10): Caitlyn Owings 4 0 0-0 8, Brittany Stewart 2 0 0-0 4, Allison Graves 4 0 2-4 10, Chelsey Taborn 0 0 1-2 1, Tori Dixon 3 2 2-4 14, Kelsey Griffith 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16-56 5-10 40. Fouls: 12. 3-point goals: 3-12. Rebounds: 36 (Stewart 7). Assists: 6 (Griffith 2). Steals: 9 (Dixon 3). Turnovers: 12.

ATHENS (9-12): Eliza Christensen 2 1 2-4 9, Raven Cline 8 0 0-0 16, Cindy Willis 2 0 0-1 4, Emily Hopton 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Staten 1 0 1-1 3, Kayla Nicholson 0 0 0-0 0, Jamie Sindelar 1 0 3-8 5, Elena Lein 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16-42 6-14 39. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 37 (Sindelar 9). Assists: 9 (Willis 4). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 16.