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A high school basketball team in the state of Arizona will no longer have an opportunity to compete for a championship. Poor fan behavior has resulted in its removal from the field.
The decision was announced this week, just days away from the title game. The school will be forced to forfeit its semifinal contest allowing one team to advance without competing.
Coolidge High School faced Chinle in the second round of the AIA 3A Boys’ Basketball State Championship. The Bears beat the Wildcats, 64-53. They will not, however, be rewarded.
Bad fan behavior sparks high school basketball controversy.
After the game, the Arizona Interscholastic Association reviewed allegations of Coolidge fans directing racial taunts at Chinle players. There were also accusations of spitting.
Game footage provided enough for the AIA to hand down punishment. It placed Coolidge on a 365-day athletics probation.
Probation in the AIA bylaws means all of the school’s athletic teams are not eligible for the postseason for a year in every sport. But Coolidge can appeal the probation with the AIA Executive Board.
“The AIA and its member schools are committed to highest levels of respectful behavior from all of the participants at all AIA events,” the association said.
An investigation into the allegations turned up wrongdoing.
“It came from a game feed from Coolidge High School on YouTube,” said Executive Director Jim Dean. “And some of the allegations were not substantiated and some were.”