SALISBURY- A bigger and better Governor’s Challenge holiday high school basketball tournament returns to the area next week with many of the top programs in the region competing in the prestigious event.

The Governor’s Challenge Basketball Tournament returns to the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center on December 26-30 and officials last month announced the tournament’s field has grown again for the 2014 event, which has long been a staple for holiday basketball on Delmarva. Now in its 33^rd year, the Governor’s Challenge will host 52 teams from around the region including Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New York, 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 Lower Shore will be well represented in the 2014 Governor’s Challenge with several Bayside Conference schools competing along with a handful of private schools. The Decatur boys will take the court for the first time next Friday against Aberdeen at 11:30 a.m. at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center.

Wicomico High will play next Friday at 6:30 p.m. Parkside will play Patterson at 4:15 next Friday. Worcester Prep gets an early wake-up call against North Dorchester on Monday, December 29 at 9 a.m. Bennett will play Westminster on December 29 at 3:15 p.m. and Pocomoke will play Randallstown next December 29 at 7:15 p.m.