Gridley senior guard Brian Brown (0) goes for a layup against Sutter in the Bulldogs 48-47 defeat on Friday, December 15. Photo by Steven Bryla

 

42nd Annual Georgia Raczniak RedHawk Classic (Colusa)
COLUSA, CA (MPG) - The Gridley boys’ basketball team finished in third place in the Colusa tournament last weekend as they continue to grow as a team.

Gridley went 2-1 in the tournament, as they opened with a big 35-point victory over Yreka last Thursday before dropping a close game against Sutter (former Butte View League rival) that was back-and-forth the entire game.

The Bulldogs closed out the tournament with a 56-49 victory over BVL foe Corning to take third place in the tournament. 

Gridley Head Coach Nathan Link expressed to the Herald that the Bulldogs responded well to adversity throughout the tournament, and most notably when they opened the game against Corning down by 11 points in the first few minutes of the game.

Additionally, adversity struck in the game against Sutter when sophomore guard Bikram Kullar went out with an ankle injury. 

Link told the Herald that Kullar is listed day-to-day and will likely return next week when Gridley plays in the Dixon tournament. 

Kullar’s older brother, senior forward Aaron was the only Bulldogs recipient of a place on the all-tournament team.

Gridley (8-4) had a perfect record on the season (7-0) against Northern Section teams after the conclusion of the Colusa tournament. 

Link expressed to the Herald that they are progressing to gel as a team. The Bulldogs are off to their best start since the 2019-20 season.

Gridley traveled back to Colusa on Monday night to play the RedHawks in a non-league matchup before they hosted the defending CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champions from Marysville on Wednesday evening.

Gridley junior forward Brook Marr (2) puts the ball up towards the basket in the Lady Bulldogs 67-38 defeat to Chico on Thursday, December 14. Photo by Steven Bryla

Sutter Tournament 
SUTTER, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs girls’ basketball team went 1-2 in a competitive field of teams at the Sutter tournament where they were able to add to their strength of schedule for later on in the season.

 In the first game of the tournament, Gridley lost 67-38, but the Lady Bulldogs contended with Chico for a lot of the first half before the lead got out ahead of them.

 In the second game of the tournament against Colusa, Gridley found themselves in a huge deficit as high as 14 points in the early part of the game.

 The Lady Bulldogs fought their way through the entire game and got the game within two possessions late in the fourth quarter when Colusa was up 34-30.

 The RedHawks eventually pushed the lead to nine in the final couple minutes before securing the 39-34 victory.

 Gridley beat Sutter for seventh place in the tournament as the Lady Bulldogs controlled the game despite trailing by one entering the fourth quarter before winning the tournament finale 50-40.

 Gridley played 10 games within the first 16 days of December. Lady Bulldogs expressed to the Herald that the girls have rarely had the opportunity to rest their bodies with all of the physical play they have endured in the early half of the season.

 Although Becca McCray said it’s good for Gridley by the time BVL play comes around, the competition level of teams they are going up against prior to BVL play will have the Lady Bulldogs more than prepared for league. 

 Despite playing a back-to-back against Colusa and Marysville on the road this past Tuesday and Wednesday night, Gridley will play in Lincoln’s second tournament hosted this season where they play a Sacramento perennial power in Inderkum and a competitive Foothill squad.

 Lady Bulldogs junior forward Brook Marr was named to the All-Tournament team for Gridley.