Gridley senior forward Aaron Kullar (23) and junior forward Brook Marr were both named All-NSCIF First Team Selections and Butte View League Most Valuable Players during the 2023-24 season.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Two Gridley basketball players received the honors of being named to the California Interscholastic Federation All-Northern Section team. 

The athletes were selected by a compilation panel by the Appeal Democrat, Enterprise-Record (Chico), Red Bluff Daily News, Redding Record Searchlight and MaxPreps.

Gridley senior forward Aaron Kullar and junior forward Brook Marr were both named to the first team for both the boys and girls first team selections. 

Kullar and Marr were also named Butte View League most valuable players during the regular season.

Kullar led the Gridley boys in points per game (18.3), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.1). Kullar also led the BVL with 13 double-doubles.

 Gridley senior Aaron Kullar (23) shoots a three-pointer in the Bulldogs’ win over Orland in the NSCIF Division IV playoffs on February 21.

Marr led the Gridley girls program to a four-way tie for the BVL championship in the regular season.

Marr finished in the top 30 nationally for her 24 double-doubles and 20th nationally with 6.3 blocks per game, according to MaxPreps.

Additionally, her 20.8 points per game and 13 rebounds were top 5 in the NS.

 Junior forward Brook Marr blocks a shot with 2.7 seconds in regulation over Las Plumas on January 23, to secure a 37-35 win for the Lady Bulldogs.

The Herald met up with Kullar and Marr, and instead of a traditional list of statistics, we took a different approach of getting to recognize the athletes for their well-deserved accomplishment.

Question and Answers with Kullar and Marr

Herald: What is a game-day superstition must have?

Marr: I need to have the same pair of spandex for home games and the same pair for away games.

Kullar: I have to take a nap before every game, the one time I didn’t get a nap, I had a bad game and only scored seven points.

Herald: What is the perfect game-day snack or meal?

Marr: A turkey sandwich with tomatoes and pickles.

Kullar: Fruit, I always have a kiwi, banana and strawberries.

Herald: What was the most difficult road game you played in this season?

Marr: Bear River because the roads were windy on the way there and it was a tough game.

Kullar: Orland because the students in their crowd knew our names, they were talking to us the entire game and tried to get in our heads, but it was a fun game.

Herald: What is the best part of being a Gridley Bulldog?

Marr: All of the support from the teammates and the coaches.

Kullar: Representing our small community. Everyone is close to one another, so it’s always been nice playing for my hometown.

Herald: What was the best advice you received from a coach this season?

Marr: Don’t try and force anything, focus on the defense and rebounding and the points will come later.

Kullar: To keep my head up and keep going forward because you are going to have a lot of ups and downs. Not every day is going to be good or vice versa, so just keeping a level head and moving forward.

Herald: What is your game-day music playlist?

Marr: A lot of 90’s and early 2000’s crunk rap music.

Kullar: I listen to a lot of Drake before games.

Herald: What is a goal you want to accomplish this offseason to improve your game?

Marr: Shoot more consistently from the outside, specifically from the top of the three and on the wings.

Kullar: I want to put on 10 pounds before I get to college (University of California, Merced) and become more mobile to become quicker and more athletic.

Herald: What was your favorite moment from the 2023-24 season?

Marr: When I scored my1000th point and everyone tackled me.

Kullar: Winning the section title because we were down and it was rewarding because all the hard work paid off.

Biggs Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Roscoe Deel was given the Coach of the Year award in the Northern Section and also received the honor for the Mid-Valley League Coach of the Year for the boys as he won the CIF NS Division VI title and had the first plus-.500 in the program since the 2015-16 season. 

Girls All-League Selections

Gridley senior guard AnaGloria Luevano was named to the Butte View League team.

Live Oak senior guard Lilliana Vivian received the honor from the Sacramento Valley League.

Biggs had two seniors in Addie Scott and Kloe Seipert receive the honor of making the All Mid-Valley team.

Boys All-League Selections

Gridley junior guard Luis Murillo and senior guard Travis Boyd were named to the All-BVL team.

Biggs had four players named to the All-MVL team including senior forwards Chase McLean and Emilio Vera. Vera was named the MVP of the MVL. 

Wolverines junior guard Brady Smith and sophomore forward Skyler Long also made the all-league team.