Basketball tourney fundraiser to continue in memory of North Allegheny athlete

Nearly 10 years after a standout North Allegheny athlete died from complications of a head injury he suffered playing rugby, the Eric Pelly Memorial 3-on-3 basketball tournament and fundraiser continues and will be held June 4 this year.

The tourney is a fundraiser for the Eric Pelly Sports Education Fund, which teaches parents and athletes the dangers of concussions, skills to avoid head injuries and ways to support recovery, said Jenna Pelly, Eric's sister and organizer of this year's tournament.

Eric, 18, suffered a concussion playing rugby for the Pittsburgh Harlequins in late 2006 — his third in as many years, according to the Sports Education Fund's website, ericpelly88.com.

Ten days later, the North Allegheny senior collapsed at dinner with his family and eventually died.

His school held the first memorial tournament in 2007.

The tournament, where the winner of the 2015 Eric Pelly Scholarship also will be announced, will be held at 6 p.m. June 4 at North Allegheny Senior High School. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students.

Pelly said while the website says registration ended Wednesday, teams still can sign up online and at the event.

The $1,000 scholarship goes to a North Allegheny senior who maintains at least a 3.0 GPA, performs community service and demonstrates in an essay what the fund's motto of “never give up” means to him or her, Pelly said.