Palo Verde wins first state championship

No. 1 Palo Verde defeats No. 3 Coolidge 52-41 in the 3A boys basketball title game

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Palo Verde Panthers won their first-ever state championship, defeating the Coolidge Bears 52-41 in the 3A boys basketball title game. Senior Kameron Pippen lifted the championship trophy for the Panthers, who were the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Why it matters

This is a historic win for the Palo Verde basketball program, which has never before won a state title. The Panthers' victory over the third-seeded Coolidge Bears caps off an impressive tournament run and solidifies Palo Verde as a new powerhouse in Arizona high school basketball.

The details

Palo Verde, the tournament's top seed, led wire-to-wire against Coolidge, building a double-digit lead in the second half that they would not relinquish. The Panthers' stifling defense held the Bears to just 41 points in the championship game.

  • The 3A boys basketball championship game was played on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • Palo Verde won its first-ever state title with the 52-41 victory over Coolidge.

The players

Kameron Pippen

A senior on the Palo Verde basketball team who lifted the championship trophy after the Panthers' victory.

Anthony Smith

The head coach of the Palo Verde Panthers, leading the team to its first state championship.

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What they’re saying

“3A Championship: Palo Verde over Coolidge 52-41 #azpreps365”

— AZPreps365 (Twitter)

The takeaway

Palo Verde's championship win marks a new era of success for the school's basketball program, which has never before reached the pinnacle of Arizona high school sports. The Panthers' dominant tournament run and title victory cement their status as an emerging powerhouse in 3A basketball.