The Lakeland High School boys’ basketball team survived the frenzied environment of Nansemond River High School Friday night.

The game was much closer than when the two teams faced off earlier this season at Lakeland, but the Cavaliers remained the victors — 66-61 this time — due to opportunistic play and pivotal defense in the fourth quarter.

“We put together a great game, but again, Nansemond River is one of the toughest places to play,” Lakeland coach Clint Wright said. “It was great to get out of there with a win.”

The River Rowdies had plenty to cheer about early on in the contest.

“We started out great, good energy, took an early lead, executed at both ends of the floor very well,” Warriors coach Ed Young said.

Wright knew his squad needed to do something to disrupt the home team after its first-half performance.

“They shot the basketball extremely well. They were able to make the extra pass.”

Warriors junior Josh Covington led his team with 19 points and drew praise from Wright for his ability to create opportunities on offense.

Because of that ability, Wright applied something similar to a box-and-one defense in the fourth quarter. While four Cavaliers largely played a zone defense, a fifth Cavalier would simply go wherever Covington went.

Rather than playing the basketball, sophomore guard Jerry Goodman, junior guard Daquan Boyette and senior guard Kenya Latham took turns face-guarding Covington, staying in his face to limit his touches on offense.

“I thought that was easily the deciding factor towards the latter part of the game,” Wright said.

Young highlighted the defensive effort against one of his other players, senior Matt Allmond, who was held to four points.

Young noted how consistently opportunistic the Cavs were.

“Every breakdown that we would have on defense — and we didn’t have a lot — they capitalized.”

The Warriors actually out-shot Lakeland from the floor, 48 percent to 45 percent, Young said, but free throws made up for that. He said the Cavaliers made 18, while Nansemond River only put in seven.

Additionally, “They killed us on the glass,” Young said, as the Cavaliers finished with a 40-23 advantage in rebounds.

Lakeland junior forward Deonta Knight had a game-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds.

Continuing to shine for the Cavs as of late was Jerry Goodman, who had 15 points.

“He actually started the game on this evening,” Wright said, and he scored Lakeland’s first five points. Additionally, on defense in the fourth quarter against Covington, “Jerry was our closer, so to speak.”

Kenya Latham contributed eight assists and six points.

Nansemond River (7-9, 0-5) hosted Gloucester High School on Saturday evening. On Tuesday, Lakeland (9-8, 3-2) hosts Phoebus High School, and the Warriors host Heritage High School.