James Snyder has had a long bond with Catasauqua-based basketball.

He played for his father, Eric, in high school, and he is currently a member of his coaching staff. Yet, for the younger Snyder, summer basketball in both Catasauqua leagues also have played a major role in his life.

This past summer, Snyder again played for Catty Corner, a team he and several of his teammates have suited up for several years. Snyder likely will be back in the Battle of the Boroughs the first week of August, but every team’s fate won’t be known until the North Catty League decides its champion Tuesday night.

Snyder, a 2012 Catty grad, doesn’t plan on slowing down. It doesn’t get old. Catty Corner won the final Tournament of Champions in 2019.

“A lot of players that have been in the league for quite some time, and are still in the league,” said Snyder. “The intensity and the competitiveness is still there.

“There’s some new teams, and both good and bad teams. But as we age, it gets slightly more challenging each time. The good news for my team is that we have a lot of chemistry because we have been playing together and succeeding together for a long time.”

Teammate Derek Hall, who played overseas for a number of years, has cherished all of his summer opportunities in Catty.

“I think summer leagues are absolutely a great thing to have,” said Hall. “It gives you a chance to get a run in outside during the summer with friends and family.

“I believe the same amount of intensity is still there, but the amount of leagues have diminished.”

Hall has played in Catty long enough to remember the glory days of the defunct Tournament of Champions (TOC).

“A year or two before COVID, some leagues started to slow down. When COVID hit, it unfortunately ended about 75 percent of the leagues. I remember the TOC back in 2018 when it had eight to 10 league champions. Now it’s a battle between two boroughs and four teams.”

Hall thanked Eric Snyder and Jason Bogden who run the Catty and North Catty leagues respectively, and is optimistic summer leagues can regain their stature.

“I just finished up playing in a new league in Schnecksville,” added Hall. “Hopefully in the future, new leagues will start to pop up because the interest will always be there.

“I am finally finished playing basketball overseas. It lasted eight years and led me to see 24 different countries. I am 33 years old and coming up on one year working at Dun & Bradstreet as a delivery consultant. I plan on helping out this season and being a part of the coaching staff for the Northampton boys basketball team.”