Governors Challenge basketball: Top matchups, players to watch during 2023 tournament

The 2023 Governors Challenge is just one week away, as 114 teams will compete in the country's largest holiday basketball tournament on Maryland's Eastern Shore, running Dec. 26-30.

While many teams travel to Salisbury to play against each other, often the games that attract the best crowds are the Shore Showcase matchups, with Bayside Conference and Henlopen Conference teams facing off against each other in front of their hometown fans at the Wicomico Civic Center. And this year's slate of games looks to be enticing for local fans, with matchups providing a chance to see this year's top teams in action.

Here are some local matchups to watch during this year's Governors Challenge:

The Salisbury School vs Parkside

Dec. 26 | 8: 30 p.m. | Civic Center

The biggest Day 1 game is Dover vs. James M. Bennett, a matchup between two teams that are expected to be at the top of the Bayside and Henlopen conferences this year. But right after that, closing out Day 1 at the Civic Center is The Salisbury School vs. Parkside in a Bayside vs. ESIAC game.

The Salisbury School will also be competing in one of the Boys Brackets later in the week, and they will compete in a Shore Showcase game to start the tournament. Led by Tyler Ball, one of the best players on the Eastern Shore, the Dragons have been one of the ESIAC's top teams over the last two years, winning the championship in 2021 and falling just short of a repeat in 2022. With Ball leading the way, The Salisbury School will be a team worth watching during the Governors Challenge and the rest of their season.

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Snow Hill vs Sussex Central

Dec. 29 | 5 p.m. | Civic Center

The Snow Hill Eagles will play two games in the Shore Showcase this year, starting with Smyrna on the tournament's opening day, and then on Dec. 29, the Eagles will face Sussex Central at the Civic Center.

The Eagles got star guard Jayden Hudson back for his senior year after playing at Stephen Decatur as a junior, and they also welcomed junior guard Ke'Andre Nixon from Pocomoke, who was one of Maryland's leaders in scoring last season. Add those two to returning senior guard Tyler Reddick, and this Snow Hill team is loaded with backcourt talent to help them compete in the Bayside and in Maryland's Class 1A.

After a solid season last year, Sussex Central will look to make some noise in the Henlopen this season, led by Clarence-McBride Allen and David Maker. This matchup between two teams looking to break through to the top of their respective conferences is certainly one to watch before the Governors Challenge closes out.

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Salesianum vs James M. Bennett

Dec. 29 | 6:45 p.m. | Civic Center

The Salesianum Sallies will be competing in both the Elite Showcase and the Shore Showcase next week, as the defending Delaware State Champions play legendary Maryland program Dematha Catholic to close out the tournament on Dec. 30. But the night before that game the Sallies will play the Bayside Conference's James M. Bennett at the Civic Center.

James M. Bennett, led by backcourt duo Jace Hudson and Zakai Smullen, made a big impression in their two Governors Challenge games last year, defeating Cape Henlopen and Polytech in what also served as an impressive showcase for their talented sophomore backcourt. Now juniors and recognized as two of the best players the Shore has to offer, the Hudson and Smullen-led Clippers will be given an even tougher challenge this year when they face Salesianum in their second of two Governors Challenge games (the Clippers will also face Dover in another anticipated Shore Showcase matchup on Dec. 26).

Salesianum brings back a lot of talent from last year's state champion team, including some of the top players in the state according to Delaware's News Journal, like Isaiah Hynson, Kareem Thomas and Justin Hinds. Seeing some of the Bayside's best compete against a defending state champion should be a great watch on Day 4 of the tournament.

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Wicomico vs Seaford

Dec. 30 | 3: 15 p.m. | Civic Center

A matchup between the reigning Bayside and Henlopen Conference champions will be another highlight of this year's tournament. Both Wi-Hi and Seaford had outstanding showings in the 2023 tournament, and each came just short of winning a state title last year. They each come into this season with much different rosters than what they had last year, but that doesn't diminish what should be a good matchup between two solid teams.

Seaford does bring back Kashmier Wise, who was one of the stars of last year's team. And Wi-Hi has been led by Delmar transfer Takai Hugee early this season. As one of the tournament's founding schools that took part in the original tournament, and still led by legendary head coach and Governors Challenge founder Butch Waller, Wi-Hi is always a team to check out when the Governors Challenge rolls around.

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Cambridge-South Dorchester vs Woodbridge

Dec. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Civic Center

The Cambridge-South Dorchester Vikings have gotten off to a solid start to the 2023-24 season, as they hope to compete for a Bayside North title and in Class 1A. Their season-opening win over Snow Hill has been one of the most impressive early season wins in the Bayside so far, and they'll have the chance to continue their momentum with two games against Woodbridge and Sussex Central in the Governors Challenge.

Point guard LaShaun Moody has starred for the Vikings early in the year, as the quick guard has been too much for opposing defenses to handle. They'll face Woodbridge on the final day of the tournament, and the Vikings will be a Bayside team to watch not just in the Governors Challenge, but throughout the Bayside Conference season.

Dover vs Stephen Decatur

Dec. 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Civic Center

Also taking place on the Governors Challenge final day is a matchup between two teams that are favorites to win the Bayside and Henlopen conferences. The Governors Challenge may have saved the best Shore Showcase game for last when they scheduled Stephen Decatur vs Dover this year.

Dover was a part of last year's highly anticipated game between Wicomico and the Senators, where they fell just short to Wi-Hi. This year, led by guard Denim Perkins and forward Dorell Little and expected to be one of the best in Delaware, they return to face the Decatur Seahawks.

Decatur came into this season expecting to be one of the Bayside's best and proved that with an early season road win over Bennett. Led by many of the same star players that led them to a state championship on the football field just a few weeks ago, this Decatur squad is a team that can overwhelm opponents athletically on both sides of the ball. With Davin Chandler, Brycen Coleman, Trybe Wise and Seaford transfer Careen Bolden leading the way, it'll be tough to imagine most Bayside teams being able to hang with the Seahawks.

Dover won this matchup handily in last year's Governors Challenge, beating the Seahawks by double digits before Decatur went on a long win streak that resulted in a Maryland regional title. This final game at the Civic Center should close the tournament out strong with a high level of talent on the floor.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Elite players and thrilling matchups at Governors Challenge 2023