Cairns Taipans have moved into the NBL's top four following a 97-83 wins against the Brisbane Bullets at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Brisbane stepped on to the court knowing their post-season dreams were over but early they looked determined to ruin the Taipans top-four hopes.
They made a flying start in the first quarter and led by nine points at one stage.
Mid-season pick-up point guard Jeremy Kendle continued his hot run of form for the Bullets, scoring a season-high 24 points to help Brisbane's cause.
But Cairns import Travis Trice wasn't about to be upstaged on his home court, the point guard replied with 27 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Off the back of Trice's performance, the Taipans hit back with a 30-point second quarter, just the second time they've done so this season.
Former Taipan Torrey Craig kept the Bullets in the match with 22 points and eight rebounds but Andrej Lemanis' injury-ravaged squad couldn't go the distance when the Cairns put in another 30-point haul in the fourth to end the contest.
Mid-season signing Tony Mitchell was also much improved in his fourth game for Cairns, the forward contributed 12 points and endeared himself to the crowd with several highlight dunks.
The win is the Taipans' third in a row and moves them into fourth spot on the ladder.
A win in their next game on Friday against Illawarra would put them into second place.
Brisbane will be back in action on Friday as well, travelling to Perth to face the Wildcats.
"It's been a crazy three weeks for us, we've pretty much played in all three corners of the league and managed to play well," Cairns coach Aaron Fearne said.
Brisbane will play out the rest of the season for pride and Lemanis says he's already focused on their next campaign.
"We need to get off the emotional rollercoaster of wins and losses and just focus on getting better every day," he said.
"It's not a fun situation but the spirit of the group is still good."
