OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs basketball team got a preview of Butte View League play as they beat the Oroville Tigers 49-44 in the Dennis Burnum tournament at Oroville High School on Thursday, January 5.

In the tournament, Gridley would see two of their BVL opponents during league season in Oroville and Las Plumas.

Bulldogs head coach Nathan Link expressed to the Herald that seeing their league opponents in tournament settings will give them time to make adjustments before they play them again during league.

Gridley (5-8) built an early lead in the first quarter and held onto it for the remainder of the game in the wire-to-wire victory.

Bulldogs junior forward Aaron Kullar had nine of the Gridley 16 first quarter points that gave them the early cushion in the game.

The 6 foot 7 inch tall Kullar is versatile and can hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. All four of his first half baskets came from outside of the paint, including two three-point baskets.

With Kullar capable of being a dual threat, he is bound to get double and triple teamed when he has the ball so finding and getting his teammates involved is key.

“If they have to bring help to cover me, that’s going to help my teammates being open and everyone on this team is capable of hitting outside shots,” Kullar said.

Kullar ended with a game-high 20 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

Gridley had the lead at the half 27-16.

The Bulldogs did a great job of defensive rebounding in the first half as they only allowed Oroville to take one shot and pass the ball up the floor for offense. Gridley had 36 total rebounds in the game.

On top of the great defensive rebounding, the Bulldogs half-court offense was effective as they were able to get high-quality shots every trip down the floor.

Gridley senior guard Benson Tolman said that Link emphasizes boxing out for rebounds on a regular basis and they should be getting defensive rebounds as the Bulldogs have a lot of size compared to a lot of their opponents.

Tolman had four points and four rebounds against Oroville.

Oroville attempted to push the pace offensively in the second half, but Gridley was able to use their size and length and cover a lot of space defensively on the perimeter.

Defensively, the Tigers tried to fluster the Bulldogs with a full-court press, but Gridley didn’t flinch and their half-court offense continued to flourish.

The Bulldogs held a comfortable 39-23 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Oroville pressed Gridley in the fourth quarter and closed the gap to within 10 points inside the two-minute mark. A couple of late three-point baskets for the Tigers brought the game within five points inside the final minute of the game, but that’s the closest it would get.

Benson expressed to the Herald that the Bulldogs have grown dramatically since Link took over the program in the summer and the chemistry all around is good.

Gridley lost to Lassen last Friday and Las Plumas last Saturday with the ball and opportunity to tie each game but was unsuccessful both times to close out the tournament.

This young Bulldogs roster is hungry for playoffs and ready. Kullar and Benson both told the Herald that missing out on the playoffs last season didn’t sit well with them, so Gridley is going to do whatever it takes to get to the post season and be successful.

The Bulldogs began league play on Tuesday at home with Las Plumas and host Corning this Friday, whom Gridley beat 51-40 during the Colusa tournament.