MORGAN PARK — The hotly-contested "Battle of Vincennes" between Morgan Park and Simeon's boys basketball teams will be played in suburban Palos Hills, according to Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin.
The game, in which Morgan Park will be the home team, will be played on Friday, Dec. 23 at the Cyclone Center on the campus of Moraine Valley Community College.
The move adds yet another chapter to the rivalry.
Earlier this year, Morgan Park basketball parents initially threatened to not let their sons play in a 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.
The game, where Simeon edged Morgan Park 60-57, was played two weeks later.
Tiffany Burrell, whose son Melo is a member of Morgan Park's basketball team, was the spokeswoman for the parents during the gym controversy earlier this year, was unavailable for comment.
Irvin said that Moraine Valley's gym, which can hold over 3,800 people, was the only venue available in the area that had the space available to accommodate one of Chicago preps basketball's most notable rivalries.
Irvin said that the fight for a new home gym for Morgan Park is ongoing.
The school's current gym can hold only 250 people.
"It comes down to what I been saying for years ... we need a gym. It's sad we have to keep moving our home games to a bigger venue just so everybody can come see the game," Irvin said. "Morgan Park High School is 100 years old. It's time for an upgrade. My principal Dr. Carolyn Epps has been doing a great job getting the academic side together back to where we want to be."
Irvin still believes that Morgan Park has been treated unfairly by the Chicago Public Schools. Walter Payton College Prep opened up a new gym in September even though the school has been around for only 16 years. Payton received $20 million in tax-increment financing funds last year to build a new gymnasium, "black box" theater, a cafe and 16 classrooms.
"Now... when you go look around at all these other schools getting upgraded and they have only been open for 10 years. It's a shame as a whole at Morgan Park we have some of the best athletic programs in the country and we don't have good facilities," Irvin said. "Just think if we get them you will be seeing more state championships in all sports."
Moraine Valley officials told DNAinfo that the sophomore game is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. and the varsity game tips off at 6:30 p.m.
Simeon Career Academy athletic department officials were unavailable for comment.
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