Governor’s Challenge – Which Team will Take The Cake, Or Pie?

Salisbury, MD – For years, the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center has brought high school basketball players together in competition over the holiday break. In 2010 Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley placed a unique spin on this tradition by issuing a challenge to Delaware’s Governor Jack Markell. The wager: a Maryland Smith Island Cake to a Delaware Peach Pie. The inaugural Governor’s Challenge Basketball Tournament was born as a result, bringing with it a new level of excitement to the holiday basketball tradition seen on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The tradition will continue this year at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30, 2011 as teams from Delaware, the reigning champions, go up against teams from Maryland in the M&T Cup. Tip-off for dual games played simultaneously on two NCAA 94’ regulated courts in the main arena will take place at 2pm Tuesday through Thursday, while play on Friday will begin at 12:30pm.

This year, as the competition continues to evolve, coordinators announced the addition of two new cups. The Dr. Pepper 10 will bring some of Maryland’s best teams head-to-head against one another including local favorites James M. Bennett and Wicomico. Games for the Dr. Pepper 10 will kick-off on Tuesday, December 27th at 8pm. Play will continue throughout the week before the final games on Friday, December 30th beginning at 3:30pm.

The East Coast Challenge has pulled together four of the region’s top-seeded high school basketball teams to compete including nationally ranked St. Frances Academy (MD), Red Lion Christian Academy (DE), St. Johns College High School (MD) and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (MD). The competition will be intense as each team competes for the win over the course of the week beginning Wednesday at 8:00pm. The winner will be declared during the final spotlight games on Friday, December 30th at 6:30pm and 8:00pm.

The Governor’s Challenge is open to the public for daily admission. Students (with ID) are $5 while adults are $10. Tickets will be sold at the gate. For a complete team list, schedule and more information visit www.SalisburyChampionships.org. Teams and/or schedule may change as the competition nears.