Entering Friday with just a one-game lead on crosstown rival Cooper after the Lady Cougars upset Wylie on Tuesday, the Abilene High girls basketball team needed to protect its home court against Lubbock High to maintain a comfortable hold on District 4-5A’s fourth playoff spot.

Led by junior guard Myra Thomas and senior forward Samara Padgitt, the Lady Eagles did just that, fending off a spirited effort from the Lady Westerners to secure a 66-61 win at Eagle Gym.

Thomas scored a game-high 17 points, while Padgitt came off the bench to provide 15 points — 13 in the second half — to kick off a doubleheader sweep for AHS, which saw its boys cruise to 54-21 win Friday’s late game.