MORGAN PARK — The hotly anticipated game between two top-ranked high school hoops teams finally tipped off Thursday night, and thanks to lobbying from Morgan Park parents, it was played at the Far South Side school's packed home gym.
Though Simeon High School edged No. 1 Morgan Park 60-57 in the game dubbed "The Battle of Vincennes," Morgan Park hoops parents said they were glad it was played on home turf, 1744 W. Pryor Ave.
Parents initially threatened to not let their sons play in the game scheduled for Jan. 16 after Chicago Public Schools officials moved the game to a neutral site in order to accommodate more spectators. CPS relented and postponed the game, eventually agreeing to move it back to Morgan Park High School.
From tonight's Morgan Park/Simeon game. pic.twitter.com/0uhB44tq8y
— Evan F. Moore (@evanFmoore) January 29, 2016Parent spokeswoman Tiffany Burrell said that the parents got what they wanted while continuing to fight for a bigger gym.
"No matter the outcome, we wanted to play here at home," Burrell said. "We did get our short-term goal. You see the atmosphere here and that is what it is all about. You can't beat it and this is what we wanted for our kids."
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) attended the game wearing a Morgan Park sweatshirt. Though parents had lobbied city officials to build a new gym at the school, in a previous email to Burrell, O'Shea pointed out that $30 million of capital improvements were recently made at Morgan Park.
Burrell told DNAinfo that the parents are in talks to hold a fundraiser for the new gym: "We were raising the money so CPS can take us seriously in order to get a new facility."
Darlene Randall's son Jarrin plays for Morgan Park. She echoed Burrell's sentiments.
"This was a great game. Change can happen if you speak up and use your voice," Randall said. "Let's continue this great rivalry game at Morgan Park. It would have been even better if we got the win."
Fans of both teams lined up in separate areas to make sure that as many people fit in the gym as possible. Security for the game consisted of security teams from both schools, CPS security officials, along several Chicago Police officers.
Even though the two South Side schools are on opposite sides of the rivalry, many of the Simeon fans supported the Morgan Park parents' fight. Tony Thomas, whose son Josh plays for Simeon, said he understands that space in Morgan Park's gym is at a premium.
"It's about time that they decided to play the game. Whatever they need to better the school, I'm in favor of that," Thomas said. "The gym is small but their cause was the right thing to do."
Ald. David Moore (17th), a Simeon alum in attendance, agreed. "They have a great program and great students and they should have a gym to reflect that," Moore said. "Sometimes you have to do things to get people's attention. I'm glad the situation was somewhat rectified, but the purpose to get a larger gym ... I hope they get it."
There was also a general sense of relief that the game was no longer postponed. Former NBA player Bobby Simmons, who played in Morgan Park's gym when he was a member of Simeon's basketball team, said, "I'm happy that they did play the game because this is an experience the players will never get back ... I've played in gyms smaller than this and I've played in gyms bigger than this. It is all about the game. Sometimes, we had to deal with what we had."
Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said the location of the game was of no concern to him. However, he was happy a game was finally played.
"The players have been waiting for this game. Actually, I'm glad it's over," Irvin said. "I can get back to being myself and the players can get back to being themselves."
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