On July 4, Catasauqua’s boys’ basketball played an exhibition game against Northampton as part of their holiday celebration.

It has been a part of it in recent years.

This wasn’t viewed as the anticipated battle between the two teams more than four months away.

But was this game as much of a rivalry between the football teams as it has been for every Thanksgiving morning for 100-plus years? Their football showdown has certainly lost its luster with Northampton dominating the series in the last 12 meetings.

However, when these two teams meet in any sport, there are some sparks. Heck, there isn’t enough elbow room between the towns, and Catasauqua’s high school is actually located in Northampton, of course.

Over the years, Catty had met Northampton during the regular season, and the “rivalry” dates back to the days of the old Lehigh Valley League before the Colonial League and East Penn Conference.

“When I was a kid, the basketball game was a rivalry,” recalled Catty head coach Eric Snyder. “They switched leagues in 1975, and it still was a rivalry, but it just slowly and gradually began to dissipate.”

The teams have not met during the regular season since 2021-22 when Northampton won handily, 73-32. That was a year when Northampton was 21-8 and went to the state’s Elite Eight, and Catasauqua struggled to a 1-21 mark. Northampton has won the last 10 meetings between the clubs.

They have found each other as scrimmage opponents before district play, or sometimes before the season.

For the most part, though, their meetings have been shelved.

Over the last 10 meetings, Snyder noticed a change in the level of intensity. Yet, the thought of playing Northampton in any sport can generate some juice.

“It’s not there, but it’s still Northampton,” stressed Snyder. “Even though the rivalry is not there, the kids live and die to beat Northampton and their blood gets boiling when they hear about Northampton, it’s still Northampton.

“So there is a little bit of rivalry only because there are neighbors and everything just revolves around Turkey Day, that’s where it started. That’s where it festers.”

Northampton head coach Matt Scholl, whose team won the exhibition, cited the lack of regular play and the noticeable difference between the schools that has downplayed the rivalry.

“We haven’t really played Catty in basketball during the regular season in years,” offered Scholl. “It was fun to get out and play an exhibition game today. I think the size difference of the schools prevents any rivalry now. We do have a great relationship with Coach Snyder and their staff. We’ve been able to scrimmage them occasionally over the last few years, and it’s always been a great experience.”

Whenever these two teams meet, it usually is.

Unfortunately, their once-intense rivalry has been turned down too many notches.