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2019 Governor's Challenge Primer

By Marcus Helton, 12/24/19, 3:15PM EST

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An overview of the nation's largest holiday basketball tournament.


St. Andrews (RI) guard Brycen Goodine in the 2018 Governor's Challenge M&T Bank Slam Dunk Contest.

Governor's Challenge Media Central

Game Recaps, Notebooks, Streaming Video And More From The DMVelite Staff!

FULL SCHEDULE

The DMVelite Showcase Division and Bracket Division matchups.

FULL TEAM LIST

A breakdown of all 130 teams from 13 states, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Follow The Action!


Legacy Early (SC) and Brooklyn Collegiate (NY) battle for a loose ball at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in 2018.

WHAT: The 39th Annual Governor’s Challenge, the largest holiday high school basketball tournament in the country.

WHEN: December 26-31, 2019

WHERE: Salisbury, Md. The event will be held at 5 venues:

The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center - 500 Glen Ave, Salisbury, MD 21804
University of Maryland-Eastern Shore - University Blvd S, 15, East Princess Anne, MD 21853
James M Bennett HS - 300 E College Ave, Salisbury, MD 21804
Parkside HS - 1015 Beaglin Park Dr, Salisbury, MD 21804
Wicomico HS - 201 Long Ave, Salisbury, MD 21804

SIZE: 130 boys and girls varsity squads from DC, Maryland, Virginia, California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and Canada. 

THE HISTORY: Created in 1981 by longtime Wicomico HS coach Butch Waller as a four-team, one-day event featuring Wicomico, Crisfield (Md.), DeMatha Catholic (DC) and St. John’s College (DC). The field expanded to six teams the following year and has grown steadily ever since, and was officially named the Governor’s Challenge in 2010.

TICKETS: AVAILABLE HERE

Tournament All-Access Pass: $40
Daily Courtside Seats (Wicomico Civic Center only): $25
Daily Admission: $12
Kids ages 3-11: $6
Kids ages 2 and under: Free

HOW IT WORKS: With so many teams taking part, the Governor's Challenge schedule is broken into sessions - and then into Divisions and Brackets - that span the week. There is a DMVelite Showcase Division comprised of 31 teams from across the country - as well as Canada and Puerto Rico - who will play a series of non-bracket games. 

Bracket play features groups of four teams, with winners advancing to play each other the following day and the losers meeting in a consolation matchup. Each bracket crowns a Bracket Champion.

Overall, the number of teams and intriguing matchups - along with features like the highly-anticipated Jimmy John's All-Star Experience (Slam Dunk, 3-Point, and Skills Contests) create an atmosphere unrivaled in high school holiday competition.

Stay locked on DMVelite.com/GovChallenge for information on every game, along with Daily Notebooks, Player Interviews, Live streaming and more!

LIVE STREAM: Courtesy of NFHS Network and DMVelite TV