6 Bayside South boys and girls basketball games to watch in January

The new year has arrived, and the Bayside Conference basketball season has started its second month.

There will be a lot of big matchups this month: rematches of games that took place in the first few weeks of the season, rivalries, and contenders facing off for the first time this year. After a month of play, and some impressive showings at the Governors Challenge, anticipation will build as teams look to separate themselves from the pack and set themselves up for postseason play in February and March.

Here are some key Bayside South basketball games to watch in January:

Stephen Decatur at Wicomico girls

Jan. 10 | 5:30 p.m.

The past two seasons in the Bayside South were dominated by the Seahawks, who held off challengers like Parkside and Wi-Hi on their way to back-to-back titles. But this year, Wi-Hi is the team off to a hot start, as they are currently undefeated in Bayside Conference play, including an early-season win over rival Parkside.

Wi-Hi lost a tough game at the Governors Challenge to Dover, their first of the season. Wi-Hi, led by point guard Se'Lah Foreman, will certainly be looking to continue their impressive star. This matchup against a solid Decatur squad would be another opportunity to add to their resume, while also looming large in the battle to see who wins the Bayside South crown this season.

More: Major milestones, epic comeback in top moments of 2023 Governors Challenge

More: Decatur wins epic battle with Dover with last-minute basket from Careen Bolden: PHOTOS

James M. Bennett at Wicomico boys

Jan. 11 | 5:30 p.m.

A rivalry game that is always circled on the Bayside Conference schedule, Bennett and Wi-Hi are set to face each other this week at the Waller Dome.

This game has been one of the Bayside South's most exciting matchups in the past two years, with both teams competing for conference and city titles. With Wi-Hi fielding a young team this year, and Bennett suffering some close early-season losses to Snow Hill and Stephen Decatur, these rivalry games might not mean as much in the Bayside Conference outlook.

But a rivalry matchup in a great environment will always be a game to watch, especially with Bennett having two of the best players on the Shore in Jace Hudson and Zakai Smullen.

James M. Bennett at Stephen Decatur boys

Jan. 16 | 6 p.m.

A rematch between the Bayside's Class 3A teams, Decatur will host Bennett in the first of back-to-back tough games in the middle of the month for the Seahawks.

Decatur won on the Clippers' home court in December, holding off a Bennett comeback that Smullen and Hudson attempted to lead in the fourth quarter. Bennett will likely look back at that game as a missed opportunity, as they struggled from the free-throw line.

Decatur, on the other hand, continues to improve, building continuity after most of their best players jumped straight from the football field to the basketball court with minimal practice time to start the year. This is the first of two opportunities on the week for the Seahawks to defend their position at the top of the Bayside.

Wicomico at Parkside girls

Jan. 17 | 6 p.m.

In another Salisbury rivalry matchup, much like the Decatur-Wicomico game referenced earlier, this game could be a big one in deciding who represents the Bayside South in the conference title games in February, as well as seeding in the Class 2A playoffs.

Wi-Hi won the first matchup, pulling out a 50-49 win after a defensive stop on the final play of the game. Parkside will certainly be looking to even the score, and hopefully it'll be as thrilling as the first.

Snow Hill vs. Stephen Decatur boys

Jan. 18 | 6 p.m. & Jan. 27 | 2 p.m.

The two best teams in the Bayside South are set to play each other twice in the span of nine days, as Worcester County rivals Snow Hill and Stephen Decatur battle in what could end up being the most consequential regular-season games in the Bayside South.

Stephen Decatur, led by Careen Bolden, Brycen Coleman and Davin Chandler, is currently undefeated. Its biggest wins are a road victory at Bennett, and in the Governors Challenge over Dover and Smyrna. They have some tough matchups ahead of the first Snow Hill game, including a rematch with Bennett and games against frisky Wi-Hi and Parkside teams, but Decatur certainly looks the part as favorite in the Bayside Conference so far, and a team that could potentially make a run in the Class 3A playoffs.

The Eagles have just one loss, a close one in their first game of the year to Bayside North leaders Cambridge-South Dorchester. The Eagles have been stellar since, winning close games against Bennett, Parkside and Sussex Central. With a formidable starting lineup featuring two 1,000-point scorers in Jayden Hudson and Ke'Andre Nixon, as well as seniors Tyler Reddick and Dazavion Dix, the Eagles might also have the deepest bench in the Bayside, getting contributions from whichever role players they need to call upon each game.

The two games between these teams could end up deciding the Bayside South crown when the regular season wraps up February. Aside from that, just having two highly talented and well-coached teams facing off against each other in a rivalry game will always be an easy sell for basketball fans looking for a great matchup.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Best Salisbury-area high school basketball games for January