GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley boys varsity basketball team was overpowered in their opening match up of the 68th annual Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament versus the Archbishop Riordan Crusaders 75-43 on Thursday, December 8.

Archbishop Riordan made it to the CIF State Basketball Open Division Semifinals last season and the Crusaders had a significant side advantage. Gridley head coach Nathan Link told The Herald that the GIBT brings some of the top Northern-California competition to the tournament yearly. All seven teams invited to the tournament competed in a state playoff bracket last season.

Bulldogs senior forward Kendall Witt added that playing the competitive teams in higher divisions is something they won’t see for the rest of the season, but it gives them a chance to play great competition and give it their best. Witt ended the game with four points.

The Crusaders were led by senior forward Christian Wise, senior guard King-Jhsanni Wilhite and sophomore wing Jasir Rencher. Archbishop Riordan came out with a steady defensive approach that flustered Gridley early in the game as they committed multiple turnovers.

RELATED: Lady Bulldogs Control Late Push from Hornets

When the Bulldogs were able to squeeze through the defensive pressure of the Crusaders, Gridley junior forward Aaron Kullar was the answer. Kullar scored nine of the Bulldogs’ 11 first quarter points. Gridley’s 6-foot 7-inch forward ended with a game-high 20 points and added five rebounds on the night.

Gridley (2-2) trailed 24-11 at the end of the first quarter. Wilhite and Wise combined for 19-of-24 Archbishop Riordan first period points and multiple rebounds. Wilhite finished the night with a team-high 18 points and contributed six steals throughout the game while Wise added 15 points and five rebounds.

Bulldogs senior guard Benson Tolman mentioned to The Herald that he as a senior leader needed to show more communication skills with his teammates. Tolman ended the game with two points and four rebounds.

Link exclaimed to The Herald that there isn’t a possibility of slacking off against the competitive field that the GIBT presents yearly. Link added any success during the GIBT is going to give them a lot of success against the remaining teams in their schedule. 

RELATED: Lady Indians Claim Tourney Championship

Gridley trailed 45-19 at the half. The Bulldogs showed some adjustments when they came out in the second half with more intensity and never gave up the fight throughout the game. 

The Bulldogs did outscore the Crusaders in the fourth quarter. One of the main things Link wanted for his team was to grow every night the tournament progressed. Gridley accomplished that in their next two games against Branson and Oakland Tech. 

“I just want us to grind the entire time,” Link said.

Although the Bulldogs didn’t win a game in the GIBT this season, they still have a lot of room to grow and have a competitive Butte View League season.

Gridley is competing in the Colusa tournament that begins on Thursday and will end on Saturday.