Perry/Reilly 3-on-3 tourney beats heat with record-setting night

There may be no better way to spend a sweltering summer night than hitting the backboards at the famed “Perry Home Court” in Andover.

Especially when it benefits such a great cause and conjures up so many great memories.

The 10th annual Ernest J. Perry Jr. /Fran Reilly 3-on-3 Tournament hosted over 100 players on a record 25 teams and plenty of fans and friends in the stifling 100-degree heat, all to benefit a memorial scholarship fund at Andover High.

“It was great. I thought it was the best one. The emotional thing, now thinking about my father, who’s been gone for 10 years. He’d have really liked this,” said E.J. Perry III of the annual summer hoop gathering. “This is our only fund-raiser. We have people who come every year, and it’s grown every year. To get to 25 teams and about 275 people to show up for this — it’s amazing.”

Over $60,000 has been raised for scholarships through the 10 years. This year’s scholarship winners included two players from EJ Perry’s final Andover High football team – Connor Acheson and Will Dever. Luke Su was the third winner.

The hoop, as always, was fierce, competing in both young and old divisions.

“To a lot of the guys, it still means something, and it’s fun to be out there,” said Perry, who welcomed benefactors like AJ DeFusco, Paul Theberge, Fran’s son, Peter Reilly, and many others to the event. “It’s a great night overall. It was really fun.

“For my mom, just seeing the people showing up for this. I mean, my father has friends who still come. And Peter Reilly was there representing his family. His dad built the court, and that court was my father’s baby.”

Ann Concemi and her partners at Total Mortgage donated the bright and weather-appropriate T-shirts and Bill Barr donated the grill and the cooling system.

Ernie’s sons James and Matt competed, while older brothers EJ and Tim rooted them on.