Lacing up his sneakers for his 18th year in Catasauqua and North Catasauqua men’s basketball leagues, Brett Zieber wondered if he was racing the twilight of his post career after high school.

For he and his teammates, they can begin to see the start of the handwriting on the wall, but they still have it in fifth gear.

“Phil Hall and I have been playing together since middle school,” said Zieber about his former high school and summer teammate. “We actually just talked about how we might be getting close to the end.”

However, the end could be longer than anticipated. Zieber, 40, has been playing in the league consistently with Hall, Derek Hall, James Snyder, Anthony Brinkley, and Alex Parker. They will be playing for Catty Corner in the Catasauqua League and Curamaci Dental in the North Catasauqua League. Through the years, the group has captured numerous league titles and four consecutive Tournament of Champions crowns.

Despite some additional aches and pains each year, Zieber always anticipated the start of the leagues.

“I look forward to and enjoy summer league as it starts every year,” beamed Zieber, a former Northampton High standout who is an assistant coach on Catasauqua’s staff. “We still have a core of guys that have been playing together for 10 to 15 years. It’s guys I played with, and guys I coached when they were in high school.”

Zieber continues to be fueled with the thought of being a contributor to the big picture.

“I think I’ll keep playing as long as I feel I can still help the younger guys we’ve picked up recently, who really seem like they can help our team be great. But what keeps me coming back are the teammates I’ve been playing with all these years, and even the guys we’ve been playing against.”

Like Zieber, James Snyder, 32, plans to keep it going while he can.

“The guys and I feel we will always have the itch to play, until we physically cannot.” stressed Snyder, a former Catasauqua standout and current Catty assistant coach. “We have been playing together for about a decade, and we still enjoy it just as much, even though life and its changes can get in the way sometimes.”

Yet, Snyder is aware of the reality of the situation, but the drive is still there.

“We are definitely closer to the end than further from the end, but our spirit and our energy is like what it was when we were in our 20s. And what’s really cool is we’re starting to get players we’ve coached on our team.”

Snyder can see the landscape changing.

“It’s almost like a baton passing for whenever we decide to call it quits,” added Snyder. “So hopefully the kids we coached that are on our team, can take the reins when we’re done.

“It’s also neat to have lots of our former and current students who we have taught or teach come to watch us play at the park.”

Zieber has been appreciative of the one working behind the scenes to keep the leagues going, which hasn’t been an easy task.

“I enjoy being around Eric Snyder and the people who have kept these leagues going for so long. The camaraderie we’ve made along the way will keep going when this ends.”