Cancellation of the county basketball tournament may end up being the best thing for the Dallas County High School Hornets.

After learning that the tournament – originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday – was called off, the Hornets put together their best offensive output of the season Tuesday night.

The Hornets opened their area schedule with a convincing 101-43 whipping of the Jemison Panthers, Tuesday night in the Hornets’ Nest.

Six players scored in double figures for the Hornets (6-5, 1-0 in area), who topped the 100-point mark for the first time in coach Bill Porter Jr.’s three-year tenure at Dallas County.

“Well, we did get a chance to play some kids who usually don’t play a lot,” Porter said after his team’s lopsided victory. “The big things is this was our first area game. We managed to get a couple of turnovers and get our shots down. That’s about it.”

In fact, the Dallas County defense forced Jemison into 31 turnovers. The Hornets took command during an incredible 36-0 run in the second period that left no doubt about which was the better team.

Panthers’ forward Dustin McCary hit a jumper from the right corner to cut the Dallas County lead to 26-13. It would be the final basket Jemison would see for a very long time.

In fact, the Panthers’ only other points in the half would come from a pair of free throws with just over five minutes to go before intermission.

From that point, the pressing Hornets’ defense harassed Jemison, picking the ball from the Panthers and turning the steals into easy baskets.

Guard Dalandon Callens got the Hornets’ lengthy run started with a mid-court steal and break for a layup. Forward Michael Johnson also keyed several fast-break opportunities for the Hornets, one coming on a block of forward D.J. Farahkhan and pass to Andrae Nelson for a layup and a 45-15 Dallas County lead.

Guard Eric Ross came off the bench and helped keep the Hornets’ run alive. Following a steal by Rafel Miller, Ross grabbed a pass from Miller at mid-court and took it the rest of the way for a layup and a 49-15 lead.

Waters later stole a Jemison pass in the front court and finished with another layup to make it 55-15.

Another Dallas County steal capped the run, finalized by Willie Cowan’s layup to make it 57-15 at halftime.

Jemison’s offensive drought continued for more than 10 minutes until Shannon Oliver’s three-pointer with 5:18 to go in the third made it 67-19.

The Hornets led 82-27 after the third period and coasted from there. After three failed attempts to hit the 100-point mark, Brandon Childers drained a jumper from the top of the key to give the Hornets their 101st point.

Miller and Waters led the Hornets with 14 points, followed by Nelson with 12 and Callens, Artelious Dixon and Mark Neely with 10 apiece.