The Southside-Dallas County High School boys’ basketball game Saturday night was so fast-paced the only thing missing was a starter’s pistol.

Unfortunately for Dallas County, it was the Southside Panthers doing most of the running – and scoring.

Southside exploded with a 27-4 first-half run to overcome a five-point deficit and rout the Hornets, 66-41 at Southside High School.

The Panthers improved to 5-0 on the season, while the loss broke Dallas County’s three-game win streak. The Hornets fell to 3-5.

“Our guys can get up and down the court,” Southside coach Velton Robinson said. “We’ve got the athletes to do it. Not only do we have the athletes to do it, but our guys are really competitive.”

Trailing 14-9, Southside took over the game. Forward Deonta Williams’ baseline dunk over Dallas County forward Daron Waters to end the first period was just the beginning for the Panthers.

From there, the breaks went the way of the Panthers, including a 2-on-1 break capped by Jermarcus Hardy’s bounce pass ahead to Tim Sanders, who laid in the shot to cut the margin to 16-13. The Panthers made it a one-point game with a 3-on-2 break finished off by a Robert Tyus baseline layup.

Southside took the lead for good forward Jeffery Anderson went high over Waters for a running layup and a 17-16 Panthers’ advantage. Anderson was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw. Instead, Williams stole the ball on the rebound and laid it in for a 19-16 margin.

The Panthers did more than just beat Dallas County on the run and with quick backdoor passes. Southside also found its touch from behind the three-point arch. Tyus, Sanders and Anderson each sank three-pointers in the second quarter, with Sanders’ long-range shot from the right corner stretching the Southside lead to 29-18.

Sanders did more damage with his passing. His bounce pass from the foul line found Anderson in the left corner. Anderson ended the first half with a three-pointer to give the Panthers a comfortable 36-18 halftime lead.

“I worry about what we do on the floor,” Robinson said. “I just want to keep our guys juiced and energized.”

For Porter, it was the complete opposite from what he saw Wednesday night in his Hornets’ 15-point win over Selma. In that game, Dallas County out-hustled and out-shot their opponents. On Saturday, however, the Hornets were seemingly still feeling the effects of that fast-paced victory.

“It was my fault because I didn’t have them well prepared,” Porter said. “I should have had them better prepared for this game.”

The second half was a continuance of the second quarter, with Southside taking it to their rivals from the west. This time, it was the Panthers pounding the boards and hitting the put-backs. Southside opened the third period with a 9-4 run – the emphasis on run – to open a 45-22 lead. Anderson’s floater over Waters kissed off the glass for an 11-point Southside lead. After a Dallas County timeout, Tyus drained his own runner off the glass to make it a 13-point game. Hardy ended the third period with a jumper from the left corner to make it 51-30.

“We can get juicier than that,” Robinson promised.

Williams and Anderson scored 20 points apiece to pace Southside. Dallas County was led by Josh Spears with 17 points, while Waters added eight.