Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Our Redeemer's sophomore center Emily Brugman (left) and eighth-grade guard Maya Vibeto (right) react after the third quarter of Monday's Region 6 Tournament game against Westhope/Newburg at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The Knights earned a 42-35 victory over the Sioux.

The game’s most spectacular effort didn’t even count.

As the clock ticked down in the third quarter of Monday’s Region 6 Tournament first-round contest between District 11 No. 3-seeded Westhope/Newburg (12-11) and District 12 No. 2-seeded Our Redeemer’s (16-7), ORCS eighth-grade guard Maya Vibeto poked the ball loose at half-court.

Vibeto gathered herself and fired a 3-point shot from a distance that would make Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry blush.

Miraculously, the ball fell through the bottom of the net. But the last-second heave was waved off, as Vibeto didn’t get the shot up in time.

“She shot it in style,” ORCS head coach Scott Peterson said. “We were right in rhythm, but it was just a little late. She thought it counted, but I heard the horn go off before she released it.”

Both teams traded blows early in the first half at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The physical contest eventually favored the Knights’ tempo, and ORCS methodically worked their way to a 42-35 win.

ORCS pounded the paint and gained a 22-14 advantage at the intermission. The Knights’ stalwart defense held strong through the first two periods.

“Our offense really wasn’t clicking the way we usually do,” Peterson said. “But our defensive intensity was good. Our posts were helping out.”

The Knights continued their methodical attack on the hoop in the second half. Although some shots didn’t fall, the inside-out approach helped spread the floor.

Senior guard Hailey Roberts played a major role for the Knights in the latter stages. Roberts contributed 12 points in the victory, but quickly praised the Knights’ defense.

“Our main focus was on defense today,” she said. “Our defense will bring our offense. That’s what we wanted to work on.”

Vibeto led ORCS with a team-high 14 points. Westhope/Newburg freshman guard Ellie Braaten and senior forward Jazamine Solis tallied 11 points apiece, while eighth-grade guard Kimberly Tabarez chipped in with 7 points.

The Sioux hit some clutch shots and surged late, but the Knights weathered the storm.

The game marked the end of the Sioux’s season. Although the result wasn’t desirable, the effort shown in the last few minutes exemplified Westhope/Newburg’s squad.

“They give 100%,” Westhope/Newburg head coach Bob Beaudrie said. “There’s not much more you can ask from them. Things wouldn’t fall, and things didn’t go our way.”

ORCS’ gutsy performance helped the Knights clinch a spot in the first semifinal contest at 6 p.m. this evening.

“I just felt that we gutted it out,” Peterson said. “At the beginning, we were missing shots. We didn’t let that get us down. We gutted it out through the whole game. Basically, it came down to rebounding, defense and the 50-50 balls. I felt we got to them. During regional tournament time, you have to step up.”

The Knights will face District 11 No. 1-seeded Velva in the semifinals. The Aggies defeated Bishop Ryan 47-33 in the first game of the tournament.

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.