iStockphoto
Coolidge High School was booted from the Arizona state basketball playoffs due to poor fan behavior during a recent postseason win.
After learning that fate, a temporary restraining order was filed. It successfully reversed the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s decision, allowing the Bears to re-enter the field.
Coolidge is a 3A school located in between major Grand Canyon State hubs. The city is about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix and 70 miles northwest of Tucson.
The high school’s basketball team earned the three-seed in the AIA Conference 3A bracket. After taking down Winslow in the opening round, it squared off with sixth-seeded Chinle in Game 2.
Coolidge fans created high school basketball drama.
The Bears beat Chinle on the court, 64-53. Fans of the team were later accused of racial taunts and spitting on opposing players.
An investigation was launched. Wrongdoing was discovered.
“It came from a game feed from Coolidge High School on YouTube,” said AIA Executive Director Jim Dean. “And some of the allegations were not substantiated and some were.”
As a result, the school was put on a 365-day probation. The basketball team was effectively disqualified from the playoff field.
BREAKING: AIA is placing Coolidge’s entire athletic program on probation, effectively immediately, for 365 days after fallout from Chinle boys basketball 3A quarterfinal game that involved alleged racial taunts, spitting. Snowflake boys hoops advances to state final
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) February 26, 2026
That temporarily provided semifinal opponent Snowflake with a championship game bid. Their title pursuits would be short-lived.
Coolidge filed a temporary restraining order.
A local judge granted the order, allowing the team to re-enter the postseason.
What a wild rollercoaster for Coolidge’s men’s basketball program!
Earlier this week, the AIA placed them on probation after the Coolidge fans spat and called racially abusive names on the Chinle fans during last week’s game. Yesterday, a local judge granted a temporary… pic.twitter.com/TrXRYgexfz
— Jose Bandilla (@TheJoseBandilla) February 28, 2026
The team was introduced to a myriad of boos from the crowd upon taking the court.
Coolidge greeted with boos as it takes the court with mostly fans from the Navajo Nation here.
Bears take on Snowflake next in 3A semi after getting a court order to play pic.twitter.com/kjEj8cEr2e— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) February 28, 2026
Those boos did little to slow the Bears down. Coolidge won its high school basketball semifinal matchup to advance to the championship game.
The Bears beat Snowflake, 62-48. Their now-controversial playoff run continues with a title game meeting against top-seeded Palo Verde.
Prior to the temporary restraining order, Snowflake was scheduled to play for a state championship. That AIA ruling was initially met with blowback as it allowed the Lobos to secure the title spot without having to play a game.
The legal decision removed Snowflake from the finals. Its season is now over with the loss.
Many believe it was the correct choice. The Coolidge basketball team was not necessarily at fault. It was the actions of fans that sparked the suspension.
Others, however, believe the punishment should’ve stood – evidenced by the negative response of the crowd on Saturday.
Fair or foul? Let us know your thoughts on the Arizona state playoff drama.