SALISBURY- The 33rd Annual Governor’s Cup Challenge holiday high school got underway today with early first round games featuring local teams.
The Governor’s Challenge as long been a staple of the holiday basketball tournament scene on the shore. For years, it has featured the top boys’ high school basketball teams from both Maryland and Delaware competing against each other for bragging rights in the neighboring states along with signature desserts on the line for both states’ governors. Now in its 33rd year, the tournament has expanded this year and will now host teams from all over the region including Maryland and Delaware, of course, along with New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
A key contributor in the growth in this year’s event has come from the tournament’s partnership with DMVelite Showcase Events. The partnership has attracted top talent from around the region and the addition of the DMVelite Showcase. The showcase will include a mix of local teams and top programs from around the region to be featured in prime time.
For the first time this year, the boys will be sharing the spotlight with the inaugural girls’ division. Included in the girls’ division area some of the top high school programs in the state and from around the region.
The action got underway today at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center along with a satellite location at Wicomico High School and the local area is well represented in the tournament. Decatur is playing Aberdeen this morning at 11:30 a.m. on Court 1 in the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. Parkside is scheduled to play Patterson at 4:15 p.m. on Friday.
On Saturday, Parkside will play Friends at 6:15 p.m., while Wicomico will take on Patterson at 8:15 p.m. On Monday, the Worcester Prep boys take the court for the first time ever in the tournament against North Dorchester at 9 a.m. Bennett will play Westminster on December 29 at 3:15 p.m. Decatur will play a second game although the opponent nor the time had been posted as of mid-week.
Tickets cost $30 for a week-long pass and will provide access to all games for the entire tournament and the special events. Daily passes cost $10 and can be bought at the gate.
In addition to the games, the Governor’s Challenge also features several special events showcasing the remarkable talent competing. For example, the Slam Dunk Contest will feature some of the top players in the field, many of whom have committed to Division I schools. The Slam Dunk contest is set for Friday. The High School Three-Point Contest will be held over two days on Friday and again on Monday and will feature the elite shooters from all over the region. Finally, the High School Skills Challenge is set for Monday and will feature the top eight boys and four girls in the field.