Cairns Taipans thumped South Dragons 125-96 at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday night.
Despite missing two of their star scorers Martin Cattalini and Darnell Mee, the Taipans maintained a comfortable lead the entire match.
A trio of three-pointers in a row courtesy of captain Stephen Black allowed Cairns to run away with the first quarter and led 68-44 at halftime.
Although an early fightback made it look like the Dragons had bounced back from their Thursday night drubbing at the hands of New Zealand, poor defence and ill player discipline continued their lacklustre season giving them seven losses from the past 11 outings.
And not even the side-lining of Taipan Scott Cook after a bad slide sent him tumbling let the Dragons regain the advantage.
Dragons captain-coach Shane Heal said he was disappointed with the result.
"We did play terribly," he said.
"To have 40 points on us in the first quarter is terrible."
Their problems were further compounded after Heal was fouled off for unsportsmanlike behaviour following two on-court clashes late in the third quarter.
The home side made up for the absence of gun forward Cattalini, who is sidelined from an Achilles operation last week.
But the dual-Olympian was handed some good news this week with doctors telling him he will return to form next year.
Cairns coach Alan Black said he was overjoyed with the result.
"I was just pleased with everything, the games, the guys and their intensity makes you realise why you get involved in the sport," he said.
"That was a very special game."
