Kavossy Franklin came out firing in the opening term, with 12 of the Dragons’ 24 points to his name.

While Franklin led the South attack, fellow import Rosell Ellis took control of the Dragons’ defence, matching it with the Bullets’ talls at both ends of the court.

Franklin (28 points, seven boards, four assists) and Ellis (25 points, 14 boards) maintained control for much of the opening term and were standout performers for South all night.

But after a slow start to the night the Bullets hit the lead with just 20 seconds left on the clock and took a two-point advantage into the first break.

Brisbane opened the second term with a quick four points that set up a devastating 37-point display for the quarter. The Bullets had all the momentum in the second term, nailing a string of three-pointers and pushing their lead out to 11 points over the undersized Dragons.

At the four-minute mark of the second term the Bullets were 14-2 from the field, with an efficient response to every Dragons move. South found some run midway through the term to net three in a row but the Bullets were an indomitable force.

By the major break the score was out to 63-45 in the Bullets' favour, thanks largely to an 18-point haul by Dusty Rychart at 88.9% accuracy from the field.

Joe Ingles opened a spirited third term with a long-range bomb that was quickly followed by goals to Ellis, Holmes and Franklin. A slam dunk to Ingles and dual baskets to Franklin had the Dragons to within just nine points midway through the term.

South outscored the Bullets 29-21 for the quarter to cut their halftime deficit to just 10 points by the final break.

With 11 minutes left on the clock it was a six-point ball game, and with 12 of the last 14 points on the board the Dragons looked a real chance to topple the ladder leaders.

But Brisbane rallied to stave off the Dragons’ late challenge and extend their winning margin. The fast-finishing Bullets ran away with a 16-point victory over South, their thirteenth consecutive win this season.

Brisbane Bullets 117 (Rychart 26, Ere 22, Black 15)
South Dragons 101 (Franklin 28, Ellis 25, Heal 16)
Crowd: 3435 @ Brisbane Convention Centre, 24/01/07