Following his team’s 68-58 win over Wylie on Tuesday, Abilene High boys basketball coach Justin Reese said he was expecting a tough road test from crosstown rival Cooper on Friday. 

As it turned out, he and his Eagles got that and then some from the Cougars.

But at the end of a hotly contested game that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes — seven of those in the final quarter — AHS maintained its unbeaten status in District 4-5A play with a gutsy 45-44 win in front of a capacity crowd at Cougar Gym.

The victory, which capped a perfect 6-0 run through the first half of league play for the Eagles, secured a doubleheader sweep for Abilene High, which saw its girls team rout the Lady Cougars 79-46 in Friday’s early game.