Shooting Around With The Steelers

The NFL lockout won’t stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from playing ball.

But it won’t be the gridiron where they're competing Friday night. Instead, will be playing against the Chartiers Valley faculty and alumni team in a charity basketball game to benefit pancreatic cancer research.

The 16th annual “Hoops For A Cure” event at Chartiers Valley High School will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a game between all-stars from several WPIAL teams across the area. The teams were picked by Tim McConnell, coach of the Colts’ basketball team, and will include seniors Steve Burda and Matt Noszka.

After that game, the Chartiers Valley alumni team – which includes several former Colts players, a school principal and even Debra Rice from the district school board – will play the Steelers. Jeffrey Hilty, who has helped organize the game since its inception, said the games are usually competitive and always entertaining.

“We try to get as many people from the community as we can,” Hilty said. “(The Steelers players) know it will be a pretty good workout.”

Fans will have a chance to get autographs during halftime of the second game. He was unsure which Steelers players would come, but had an inkling about one player who wouldn’t be playing.

“I don’t think Hines will be there,” Hilty said with a laugh as he alluded to the dancing wide receiver.

The event has raised more than $1 million over the past 15 years for the Nathan S. Arenson Pancreatic Research Fund through UPMC’s Cancer Institute. Arenson, who was a friend of Hilty’s family, died of pancreatic cancer in 1995.

Tickets to the event are $7 and raffle tickets for various prizes such as Super Bowl tickets and memorabilia are $10. For ticket or raffle information, contact Hilty by e-mail at hiltyjd358@gmail.com.