GRIDLEY, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs girls basketball team won their first-round matchup of the Northern Section playoffs on Feb. 17 as they beat the Central Valley Falcons 64-33.

Gridley has won four of the last five first-round games since 2022 and jumped out to an early advantage.

Bulldogs head coach Becca McCray told Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports they struggled early on but was happy with the defensive effort early in the game.

Gridley opened with a 7-0 run in the first minutes of the game, but the defensive effort stood out early as Central Valley struggled holding onto the ball and threw up shots that were heavily contested each possession.

Gridley sophomore Irish Counihan (10) dribbles down the court during the Bulldogs’ victory on Feb. 17. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Bulldogs led 14-7 at the end of the first and opened the second quarter with another run and the shooting woes for the Falcons continued as they only made one field goal in the second quarter.

On top of the rough-shooting performance for Central Valley, Gridley was phenomenal with crashing the boards, especially on the offensive end.

McCray was ecstatic with the effort on the rebounding and as it gave the Bulldogs multiple opportunities at second-chance points.

Gridley led 27-14 at the half after junior Val Poyner hit a three in the final seconds of the first half.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the third and sophomore Iris Counihan led Gridley with 16 points in the victory as she developed a heavy inside presence along with senior Aida Duran.

Gridley senior Aida Duran (15) pulls down an offensive rebound on Feb. 17 in the Bulldogs’ win over Central Valley. Photo by Steven Bryla

Bulldogs senior Andrea Guillen hit four-deep balls in the win and ended with 14 in the win.

Gridley will host Winters in the second round and aim to be in the section semifinals for the first time since 2020.

McCray told YSBC that she wants to see them get off to a better start on February 19, but knows they are going to bring the effort as they leave it all out on the floor.

The Bulldogs fell to Winters in the quarterfinals with a 31-28 defeat.

Gridley struggled to make anything on the floor as the shot 20% in the game from the field and made one three-point basket in the game from 18 attempts.

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