Mike Frew and Ken Greb both grew up in New Jersey, but the duo have managed to establish themselves as basketball fixtures in the Lehigh Valley over the years.

Recently, the duo played for G&S against Roosevelt in the Catasauqua's annual Tournament of Champions at the Catty Park. In a battle of undefeated teams in the championship game, Roosevelt won, 68-56.

Yet, Frew and Greb have settled in the greater Bethlehem area since they played together and graduated from Moravian College in the late 1990s. In fact, Frew will be entering his third season at the helm of Bethlehem Catholic boys' program this winter and Greb will be on the bench as one of his assistants.

Their friendship has also developed through both the Catasauqua and North Catasauqua summer adult basketball leagues since 2002. During that time, the duo has helped their team to two championships in the Catty League.

"We have a group of guys who have been playing together for a long time," said Frew. "We have a bunch of guys who know each other from college and from the area. We have grown on the basketball court and we're all good friends. In one season, we had teams in the championship game on the same night in both leagues, and we had to split up the team."

"It has been a lot of fun for everybody."

Through the years, Frew and Greb have played with Moravian teammates Chris Early; Doug Spadt, an Emmaus grad; and ethlehem's Steve Weiler along with Bethlehem's Greg Haas and George Yasso; Nothampton's Mark Lesko; Catasauqua's Jon Seaman; Nazareth's Jon-Frank Stubits and Mark Franzyshen.

Age on the team could be considered a factor in the Catty League that has been fueled by younger teams recently, but Frew and his crew haven't been sidetracked.

"There was one night when one of the younger teams referred to us as the San Antonio Spurs," noted Frew about one of the veteran teams in the NBA. "We do have a number of younger guys on the team, but we really are a veteran team.

"We all have families now, and it was a lot easier for all of us in our twenties."

Greb also realizes how age can affect the team, but he doesn't see any difficulties in the future.

"We had a great season, but we'll be hungry to come back next year to get to the championship game again," said Greb. "We have been playing together for a while and we feel we still have a long way to go.

"But first and foremost, we really like each other and we're good friends on and off the court. We all play the same kind of game and we're all ready to sacrifice for the better of the team."

Along those lines, Greb has downplayed his two Most Valuable Player awards he has received over the years.

On any given night, we could have any of us put up 20 or more points," said Greb. "Steve Weiler just had seven 3-pointers. We never know w could have a big game for us. We have the talent here and we all feed off each other.

"It has been four or five years since we won our last championship. We all know winning is everything and we're all very competitive. We're still playing together and having fun doing it."