SHANNON – The Shannon Lady Raiders had an uneventful three quarters of play Thursday in semifinal action of the Lee County Tournament.

But what a turnaround they had in the fourth quarter, coming back to beat the Saltillo Lady Tigers 51-47 and advance to Saturday’s championship.

“I told them it was now or never,” Shannon coach Wesley McKay said of his conversation with his team between the third and fourth quarters with the Lady Raiders trailing 35-29. “This team doesn’t give up.”

The championship games Saturday, which begin at 5 p.m. at Shannon High School, will feature the Lady Raiders against Nettleton, and the Red Raiders against Nettleton.

The Lady Raiders took their first lead of the second half on a DeNeasha Beene 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 43 seconds to play at 38-37.

That was in the midst of an almost four minute scoreless span for the Lady Tigers that saw the Lady Raiders expand their advantage to as much as 47-37 with 2:05 left on a Beene layup.

Asia Rosebud led Shannon with 21 points, while Kaley Moore hit 21 for Saltillo.

Red Raiders advance

The Raiders advanced to the championship with a 67-58 victory over Saltillo. Shannon survived an 11-0 run to open the contest by Saltillo.

The Tigers pulled within 55-53 in the final period on a Corry Hudson basket with 4:26 remaining, but the Raiders pulled away at the end.

Javon Green tossed in 28 for Shannon, and Hudson hit 12 to lead Saltillo.

Both Nettleton squads came into the tournament as the No. 1 seeds, and advance over Mooreville with a 65-35 victory in the boys contest, and a 72-44 win in the girls game.

The Nettleton boys saw Brandon Jamison led the way with 16 points, and led 45-20 at the half.

The Nettleton girls held a 43-25 margin at the half, with Camry Jones scoring 26. For Mooreville, Lauren Lewis managed 15.

The consolation contest with Saltillo and Mooreville begins at 2 p.m.