Gridley Varsity Bullodgs: Back row, left to right - Connor Johns, Bikram Kullar, Aaron Kullar, Shmaas Kahn, Matthew Miskin, Jovan Kalkat. Front row, left to right - Travus Boyd, Luis Murillo, Max Tolman, Brian Brown, Gus Stogsdill. Photo courtesy of Diane Wilkerson

 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The biggest boys’ basketball showcase in Northern California comes to Gridley this weekend as the 69th Annual Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament continues its rich tradition.

The eight team field includes Archbishop Riordan, Branson, Clayton Valley Charter, Clovis North, Salesian, San Ramon Valley, Sheldon and Gridley as fans will pack the Farmhouse gym from Thursday, December 7 through Saturday, December 9.

All eight teams made the playoffs last season as it includes three section champions (Archbishop Riordan, Branson and Clayton Valley Charter).

Returning to Gridley from last season include 2022 GIBT Champion Salesian as Archbishop Riordan finished third, Clovis North and Branson as they followed suit in fourth and fifth place to round out the returners.

Key returning players from last year's tournament include Salesian senior point guard Aaron Claytor, Branson senior guard Jase Butler, and Clovis North junior guard Loukas Jones.

The tournament runs through Saturday evening as the championship will tip off at 6:30 p.m.

Gridley entered the GIBT with a 5-0 record early in the season with an impressive win over CIF Sac-Joaquin Section competitor Bear River as the Bulldogs won 58-28 on November 28.

Gridley senior forward Aaron Kullar is leading the Bulldogs in scoring with averaging over 16 points in the last four contests.

The Bulldogs are coming off a tournament sweep in the Durham tournament last week as they beat Anderson, Mount Shasta and Durham all by a minimum of 17 points.

Kullar was named Most Valuable Player of the Durham tournament and senior forward Shmaas Khan was also named to the all-tournament team.

Gridley played Salesian in the opening round of the 2023 GIBT last night and pending their result, they would either play at 5:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. against NorCal power Sheldon who has had a few state finals appearances in the last 10 season or Clovis North.