Topeka ? This time, Topeka High’s boys basketball team was ready for Lawrence — much to the Lions’ chagrin.

The Trojans exploited the LHS perimeter defense time and again, scoring a 64-47 opening-round win Thursday at the Topeka Invitational at Topeka Seaman.

Instead of being forced to shoot from the outside, the Trojans were able to split Lawrence defenders or rotate players under the hoop for entry passes and easy baskets.

“Our game plan was to stop them from penetrating and force them to shoot threes,” LHS coach Chris Davis said. “We didn’t follow our game plan.”

A similar plan worked perfectly in the Lions’ Dec. 7 season opener, when they beat Topeka 55-39. In that game, the Trojans were a horrid 15-of-64 from the field, including 2-of-25 from three-point range.

On Thursday, they hit 26-of-45 shots and only took three attempts from behind the arc, hitting one.

Defensively, Topeka (6-2) was just as sound, holding LHS to 2-of-9 shooting and forcing four turnovers in staking a 13-5 first-quarter lead. It never got any better for the Lions, who finished the game with 11 turnovers and a miserable 17 of 46 from the field.

“I think they came in with a sense of revenge on their minds,” LHS junior Taylor Parker said. “This game, coach said we weren’t disciplined enough.”

The Lions (4-5) drop to the consolation bracket, where they’ll play Kansas City Washington (3-7) at 3:15 p.m. today. Washington lost, 52-23, to Highland Park on Thursday.

Lawrence High's Taylor Parker drives around Topeka High's Xavier Burnette. The Trojans beat the Lions 64-47 on Thursday.

After its loss, LHS isn’t exactly pumped for the rest of the tournament either.

“It’s going to be tough to get motivated again,” Parker said. “We’re going to have to search for our pride the next few days and the rest of the season.”

The Lions, who have lost four of their last five, will have to re-establish their defensive mindset and receive better production from their front line.

Parker and fellow guard Bryan Cargill led LHS in scoring, with 10 points each, while big men Brad Collier and Derrick Newman combined for just four points on 2-of-6 shooting.

Forward Brandon McAnderson, plagued with foul trouble throughout the second half, scored nine points.

But offense hasn’t been the Lions’ focus this season. For a team that holds opponents to less than 43 points a game, Thursday was a game better forgotten — and probably fixable.

“We can’t make any changes strategically over the course of the next few days,” Davis said. “But I don’t think it’s a strategy change we need. It’s simply that we need to play better.”