GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - It’s the best time of year for basketball fans in Butte County to see some of the best competition throughout the state of California live in Gridley.

The eight-team bracket for the 68th Annual Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament that plays from December 8-10 includes a deep field this year as all of the competitors aside from Gridley competed in the CIF State Basketball tournament last season.

That means all teams made it to their section final at minimum.

Returning from last season’s tournament includes 2021 GIBT Champions Campolindo, Archbishop Riordan, Dublin, and Salesian.

The newcomers of Branson, Oakland Tech and Clovis North bring top level competition to the field with successful programs.

The Bulldogs open up their first game with the Archbishop Riordan Crusaders on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Crusaders were knocked out of the 2022 CIF State Basketball playoffs in the semifinals by Campolindo.

The Bulldogs recently finished 2-1 in the Durham tournament from December 1-3 with wins over Durham and Sutter.

The championship game for the GIBT will be played at 5 p.m. on Saturday evening.