Matching up in the Purple Pod designated for pool winners, district and crosstown rivals Cooper and Wylie played a thriller Friday at Bulldog Gym to highlight the Day 2 action at the Catclaw Classic boys basketball tournament.

The Cougars rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the homestanding Bulldogs 45-39 and stay perfect in the tournament heading into Saturday’s finale against Midland Christian.

Wylie’s loss, meanwhile, was a disappointing ending to the day for the tournament hosts, which closed out Pool C play Friday with a 65-41 win over Georgetown East View to earn its spot in the Classic’s top grouping.

In other action Friday, Abilene High defeated Seminole 67-47 in its Gold Pod opener, bouncing back from a tough loss to Midland Christian in pool play on Thursday.