GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs boys’ basketball team played in two exciting down-to-the-wire games in the 2025 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships.

On Tuesday, March 4 the Bret Harte High School Bullfrogs (Angels Camp) traveled to Gridley for the first-round playoff game. The game was close with each of the first three quarters, ending with a score that was a difference of no more than one point. Both teams played stifling defense, giving both teams an equal chance down the stretch. The packed Gridley gym was buzzing as the fourth quarter started.

The fourth quarter remained a repeat of the first three until the Bullfrogs went on a 6-0 run to take a 40-34 lead with 1:40 left on the clock.

Over the next 1:10, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run that included a three pointer from senior Max Tolman to bring the Bulldogs within one point.

The next Bullfrog possession resulted in a turnover giving the Bulldogs the ball back with 29.5 seconds left.

After a timeout from head coach Nathan Link, the Bulldogs started what was a chaotic possession until senior Gus Stogsdill converted on a highly contested layup giving the Bulldogs a 41-40 lead with five seconds left.

As the crowd was roaring, the Bullfrogs came out and attempted a full court pass that was intercepted by Gus Stogsdill, ending the game with a 41-40 win for the Gridley High School Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs then traveled to Redding on Thursday, March 6 for their third game of the season against the University Prep Panthers who ended the Bulldogs section championship hopes just 5 days earlier.

The Bulldogs and Panthers went on large runs that swung the score each way throughout the game. Neither team beat the other in the scoring column in consecutive quarters.

As the fourth quarter started, the Panthers led 47-38 after a huge scoring third quarter where they scored 23 points to the Bulldogs 11.

The Bulldogs would tighten up on defense and have a huge offensive fourth quarter, scoring 19 points to the Panthers 10 and forcing overtime.

In overtime, both offenses were firing on all cylinders, but the Panthers barely ousted the Bulldogs, scoring 13 points to the Bulldogs 10 and escaping with a 70-67 win and ending the Bulldogs season.

The Bulldogs had a dominant season, ending with a 25-6 overall record and 9-1 in league.