Gridley junior guard Luis Murillo (3) gets ready to attempt a shot in the Bulldogs’ 68-40 win over Corning on Tuesday, January 9.

Gridley boys’ basketball

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley boys basketball team started off Butte View League play last week perfect as they went 2-0 with wins over Corning and Orland.

Gridley easily took care of Corning in the Bulldogs’ 68-40 victory on Tuesday, January 9. The Bulldogs had phenomenal ball movement throughout the game as their lead grew from nine at the end of the first quarter to 29 by the end of the third quarter.

Gridley senior forward Aaron Kullar led the game in scoring with 20 points and 12 rebounds against Corning. Additionally, Bulldogs senior guard Travus Boyd had 10 points and 10 assists as the only other player in the game with a double-double.

Gridley senior guard Travus Boyd (4) shoots a three-pointer in the Bulldogs’ win against Corning 68-40 on Tuesday, January 9.

This was the second time Gridley and Corning have played this season as they met previously on December 16, 2023, in the third place game of the Colusa tournament where the Bulldogs won by seven.

Every statistic in that first meeting was evenly matched, the difference in the match last week was the Bulldogs shot better from the field and outrebounded the Cardinals.

Gridley Head Coach Nathan Link expressed to the Herald that the defensive pressure his team had on Corning was great and the ball movement got everyone involved on the floor.

Bulldogs senior guard Luis Murillo, who was the Gridley steals-per-game leader as of Sunday, January 14, expressed to the Herald that to keep the strong defensive mindset as a team, is to believe that they are one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Gridley junior guard Luis Murillo (3) shoots a three in the Bulldogs’ 68-40 victory over Corning on Tuesday, January 9.

Gridley traveled to Orland on Friday, January 12, and won a physical game 68-50 as Link told the Herald.

The win against Orland was the Bulldogs’ fifth consecutive and the second time they have had a five-game win streak this season. 

Gridley senior guard Travus Boyd (4) goes up for a basket in the Bulldogs’ 68-40 victory against Corning on Tuesday, January 9.

Gridley was able to pull away in the second quarter as they opened the quarter with a 9-0 run and eventually led by 16 at the half.

The Bulldogs and Orland played evenly in the second half to secure the win for Gridley and their sixth consecutive BVL victory.

The Bulldogs next scheduled game is Tuesday, January 23, at Las Plumas in Oroville at 7:30 p.m.

Gridley senior Travus Boyd (4) drives towards the basket in the Bulldogs’ win against Corning 68-40 on Tuesday, January 9.

Gridley girls’ basketball

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley girls basketball team went 1-1 to open Butte View League play as they beat Corning and lost to Orland in the first week of league play.

Gridley struggled to make shots throughout the week as they shot 19% from the field against Corning in their 36-24 win on Tuesday, January 9, win. 

This was the first win for the Lady Bulldogs of the season where they shot 25% or less from the field and secured the victory.

The shooting struggles continued as Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Becca McCray expressed to the Herald after they lost 51-46 on Friday, January 12.

McCray told the Herald that Gridley missed plenty of easy layups in the loss to Orland, but their defense was a strong focal point in the loss.

Although the Lady Bulldogs haven’t shot the ball well from the floor lately, McCray expressed to the Herald that she knows the shots will eventually fall.

Gridley is next scheduled to host Las Plumas on Tuesday, January 23.