Citing security concerns, Drexel cancelled plans for the high school basketball league to use its facilities. Philadelphia public school officials scrambled yesterday to find a new venue for their high school all-star basketball doubleheader one day after Drexel University, which was supposed to host the event on March 22, announced that its arena would be "unavailable." The school chose not to hold the boys and girls hoops event because of worries it would "create unnecessary public safety risk for Drexel's campus community," according to a statement the school released Tuesday. The announcement came two days after a fatal shooting on 33rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut streets following the Public League boys basketball championship game at the Palestra Sunday afternoon. North Philadelphia resident Anthony Davis, 22, was killed, and three others -- including a University student -- were wounded in the incident. School District of Philadelphia officials expressed regret about Drexel's decision, but said they were hopeful another organization would volunteer to host the games. "We just want to be able to put on a game that's worthy of the kids and worthy of the history of basketball in Philadelphia," said Mitchell Kurtz, the president of the Public League Coaches Association, which runs the annual games. "Why do [the kids] have to be the innocent victims?" Kurtz, who coaches the basketball team at Robert Lamberton High School in the city's Overbrook Park section, traced some of the blame for Drexel's decision to an editorial that ran in Monday's Daily Pennsylvanian. The staff editorial, a passage of which Drexel cited in its official statement, recommended that Penn not host the championship game in the future in order to better ensure students' safety. According to police investigators, the shooting was unrelated to the game and was the result of longstanding animosity between Davis and his attacker. Jeffrey Noble, 19, a friend of Davis' who was wounded in the shooting, was a student at Benjamin Franklin High School, which defeated Franklin Learning Center 61-56. No arrests have been made. Sunday's incident has caused many Penn community members to question the school's decision to host the championship game, especially since police reported hearing gunfire following last year's game, which was also at the Palestra. According to University spokesperson Ken Wildes, Penn officials are reviewing the school's relationship with the Public League and will probably make a decision this month about hosting the championship game next year. They will also review all of Penn's policies about allowing outside groups to use Penn's facilities, but Wildes continued to emphasize last night that the University will not make a "snap decision." "We're not going to rush to judgment here. We're going to look at the facts and make an informed decision," he said. He declined to comment on Drexel's choice, but said Penn is not under "the same pressure" that Drexel was since the all-star game is less than three weeks away. Drexel Associate Athletic Director Johnson Bowie did not rule out the possibility of hosting future Public League events, saying officials would probably consider each case individually. According to a statement released by School District Superintendent David Hornbeck, officials are "considering a number of options" for hosting the event and will "do everything we can to see that the game takes place in an easily accessible, safe environment." School District officials, meanwhile, have already asked about using Temple University's new Apollo complex and the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse at St. Joseph's University. Officials at both those schools said yesterday that their facilities are already booked for March 22. But they said that if the Coaches Association decides to change the date, they would consider hosting it. School District spokesperson Pam Weddington said if they are unable to find another venue, they would use the gym of a public high school. But she emphasized that that would be the "last resort." Kurtz said the Coaches Association will postpone the event if a site is willing to host them at a later date. The all-star games have been held annually for 23 years. Part of the proceeds from the event goes to scholarships for the athletes.
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