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Kids Spend Day Off Learning Hoops At Palestra

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There's no school Monday in Philadelphia, but instead of sitting home, some kids are spending their Presidents Day holiday shooting hoops at an iconic venue.

With a day off of school, 14-year-old Jetseea Jennings might have been parked on the couch all day...

"Sitting down, watching TV," she says. "But a day like this, playing basketball -- it's heroic. It's nice. It's fun."

Jetseea is spending her day at the Palestra, learning basketball skills at the first annual Police Athletic League Basketball Carnival.

PAL Day Palestra #1
The first annual Police Athletic League Basketball Carnival at the Palestra. (Credit: Mike DeNardo)

PAL commanding officer Lt. Bill Eddis says 200 kids from PAL centers throughout the city are taking part:

"There's stations set up throughout the whole facility with basketball, mini golf, trivia, photography -- multiple things going on to keep these kids entertained and motivated."

Volunteers from the Philadelphia 76ers are leading the shooting and passing drills.  Kids are also being shown a different set of moves, from the Sixers Dance team.

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