The Shaler Area High School seniors took on the faculty in a basketball game last week to raise money for the Zak Piekarski Memorial Scholarship.

The memorial game has been played for seven years, since Zak died in a house fire in 2001 in what would have been his senior year.

"People kind of expect it to happen," says Eric Schott, a literature and journalism teacher at the high school. "His family helps keep it going."

At the event were Zak's aunt, grandma, cousin and brothers, who have yet to miss one of the memorial hoops games.

"I think it's wonderful that they remember Zak," says Gerri Mankowski, Zak's grandma.

Zak's aunt, Judi Bruder, echoed Mankowski's sentiments. She is happy that even though the kids he would have graduated with no longer go to the school, the game is still played in his memory.

"It's nice that he isn't forgotten," Bruder says. "It also benefits whoever is getting the scholarship."

The $3 admission also offered a performance by the Shaler Area Marching Band's Drum line and a Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin jersey raffle.

The event also features Chinese auctions that include a Pittsburgh Penguins gift pack with golf shirts, bobbleheads, posters, a Marc-Andre Fleury wall banner and more; a golf package at Pittsburgh North and $100 gift card at the Pine Creek Golf Center; and a gift card basket with Chilis Grill and Bar, Shaler Lounge, Subway, Waterworks Cinema, Sheetz and Monte Cellos.

Schott put the game together with some of the other faculty and some of Zak's friends in what would have been Zak's senior year.

The money raised goes toward a scholarship in Zak's name. Before the game even started, $1,000 had already been raised.

Between the raffle tickets, PIE T-shirts and admission, $1,412 was raised, Schott says.

Zak played basketball, was involved with music and was in the Peer Mediation program.

"The basketball may have been a little tough to watch at times," Schott says, "but the drum line performance at halftime more than made up for that."

To be eligible for the scholarship, Shaler seniors must be members of an activity in the school's Youth Advocacy League, be involved in extracurricular and community service activities and show academic promise.