Gridley tops U-Prep boys basketball. Here's what happened in the fourth period

Aaron Williams

Special to the Record Searchlight

The Gridley boys basketball used a 22-10 run over the fourth period to beat U-Prep 62-50 on Saturday to claim the Northern Section Division IV title at Shasta College.

The teams were tied at 40 entering the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs opened the period with a 3-pointer from Gus Stogsdill.

U-Prep, meanwhile, was getting only one-shot looks as the taller Gridley squad was limiting the Panthers' offensive rebounds. The Bulldogs ran out a trio of players — Bikram Kullar, Shmaas Khan and Aaron Kullar — all over 6-foot-4 with Aaron Kullar listed at 6-8.

Additionally, U-Prep (22-9) had five turnovers in the first four minutes of the final period.

Gridlley’s Brian Brown (0) and Luis Murillo (3) celebrate on the court after the Bulldogs defeat the Panthers, 62-50, to take the NSCIF Div. IV Boys Basketball Championship title on Saturday at Shasta College.

Khan led the way for Gridley (22-6) with 17 points while Aaron Kullar added 16 and Travus Boyd chipped in 10.

No U-Prep player finished in double figures as Baron Grooms led the way with nine and freshman Trey Pringle, Scott Steffan and Adam Gire all had seven.

More:U-Prep girls hoops advance to Northern Section Division IV finals against West Valley

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After a Travus Boyd free throw put Gridley up 44-40, the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-8 post Aaron Kullar sandwiched 3-pointers around a Steffan bucket for a 50-44 lead.

U-Prep was able to cut the edge to four once again on Jack Ampi’s steal and coast-to-coast fast break layup, but that’s as close as the Panthers would get.

Luis Murrilo hit a jump shot, U-Prep was called for three fouls in a 30-second span and Boyd hit two freebies for a 54-46 lead with 1:50 left. To compound the U-Prep woes, the Panthers were whistled for a foul on the box out during the made free throw.

The extra possession turned into a Murrillo triple and a 57-46 edge with just over 1:20 left.

After the Bulldogs missed a pair of free throws, U-Prep picked up a technical in the battle for the rebound and Aaron Kullar sank both freebies to boost the lead to 13 with just over a minute to play.

The Panthers await their state playoff seeding on Sunday.