GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Though some things may have changed since the first game of the tournament back in 1953, one thing has remained the same – Gridley’s pride in hosting the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Then high school junior, Brud Soares, played guard on the varsity boys basketball team back in 1953, the year the Gridley Invitational Boys Tournament got its start. He shares that at that time “There wasn’t any tournaments in northern California – we didn’t have a state championship or nothing. No recognition for good basketball teams.” Soares told of how he and his teammates nagged and whined to Coach John Valentino about being able to play a tournament. On the way home from their season-ending game in Corning the coach let the cat out of the bag. According to Soares, Coach Valentino said, “listen we’re going to have one….but we could use some money.”

The players sprang into action, Soares telling how they immediately rallied the high school girls, cheerleaders and students, and organized a cake sale that ran all weekend in front of the old Safeway and Kilpatrick’s stores in downtown Gridley. Meanwhile, Coach Valentino, his wife Helen, and good friends and contributors to the first G.I.B.T., John and Carmelita Adams, had been persuading merchants to donate to the tournament. Between the profits from the cake sale and the donations from the community, the first G.I.B.T tournament was born.

Soares said that the tournament was the first taste of serious ball-playing that Gridley had seen and that was one of the founding principles of the tournament. “I think we were one of the first ones to bring in Bay area teams,” he said, “so we could see what good basketball was.” He continues to share how no one on the team had ever seen anyone dunk a basketball and that the boys of Gridley learned a few things from the city boys. “Skills. Their skills were so far above ours…” he said.

In the same turn, there were some new experiences for those highly skilled ball players from the bay area waiting in Gridley that persist to this day. In the tradition of the tournament, players are still housed by community members and many take the students out for a bit of country-fun. “Kids out of the city had never experienced duck hunting or shooting a .22 or riding a horse,” says Soares. Experiencing that he says, “it was a big deal for those kids.” The exchange allowed for social barriers to dissolve as people of different races and lifestyles come together for the tournament.

G.I.B.T was and is still an 8 team, double elimination tournament. In 1953 Gridley took third place, with Grant high school securing the top spot after beating, Sacred Heart from Sacramento. Ultimately the tournament was moved from a post -season tournament as Championship games were added to the equation. It is believed by the G.I.B.T. Committee that the tournament is the longest running of its kind and still one of the most prestigious varsity basketball tournaments in the north state.

Over the years the level of talent has increased and continues to be impressive, challenging our Gridley athletes. Soares shares that many of the players that were part of the G.I.B.T have gone on to the pro level in other sports. “Bill Hardy from Sacred Heart went on to play for the 49’ers,” and Willie Stargell was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. 

Soares continues to support the event he helped establish, continuing to help bring so much joy, pride and notoriety to the Gridley community. The 66^th annual G.I.B.T tournament kicks off this weekend. Come join the legacy and watch as some amazing athletes leave it all on the Farmers Hall court. You never know, you might be watching someone destined for fame.