The Lakeland High School boys’ basketball team could not avoid having the “been there, done that” mentality that ultimately dulled their effort against visiting Phoebus High School on Tuesday, and it resulted in a 77-66 Cavalier defeat.

Lakeland visited the Phantoms on Jan. 16 and came away with a 75-67 win.

“We have that tendency to think that we can duplicate the same effort, but it’s got to be greater,” Cavs coach Clint Wright said. “You’ve got to double the intensity, you’ve got to double the sense of urgency.”

He noted that in a rematch, the team that loses during the first meeting comes in and plays with a chip on its shoulder. Phoebus matched this description, and Lakeland was complacent.

Wright said he observed effort from his players, but they were trying to win the game individually.

“We’ve got to focus and do it with each other,” he said.

The Phantoms held a 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by 10 at halftime, 36-26.

In the second half, Lakeland never got within eight to 10 points of Phoebus to spur a rally. The Phantoms led 55-43 after the third quarter.

“They made us defend beyond the first option,” Wright said.

When the Cavs were on offense, they failed to convert numerous three-point plays and some easy shots did not fall.

Despite the loss, Cavaliers junior forward Deonta Knight still ended up with strong numbers, registering 22 points and 11 rebounds.

“He’s really getting close to his thousand points,” Wright said, referring to a key milestone for Knight as a Lakeland varsity basketball player.

Cavs senior guard Kenya Latham contributed 14 points and seven assists on the night.

Wright acknowledged what seems to be greater parity in the Ironclad Conference this year.

“It makes every game watchable,” he said.

Tuesday’s loss drops Lakeland back to .500 both overall (9-9) and in the conference (3-3), with four games remaining in the regular season.

“There’s no time to panic,” Wright said.

The Cavaliers host King’s Fork High School (11-7, 4-2) on Friday.