The GIBT Story
Coaches John Valentino and Ray Roberts
1953
In 1953, John Valentino was a teacher and coach at Gridley High School. He had a plan to establish an event at the high school that brought people together from differing social, geographical, and economical segments of Northern California. Thus, the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament was born.
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From the beginning, the 3-day tournament has been renowned for extending invitations to only top California basketball teams and was designed as an eight team tournament with each team guaranteed three games. Gridley is a small, rural farming community, located about 60 miles north of Sacramento and accommodations for visitors are limited. So, Valentino arranged for visiting players to stay with local families – allowing social barriers to dissolve as people of different races, religions, and lifestyles became directly associated with one another on a daily basis. As such, throughout the history of the GIBT, local families have opened their homes each year to house the visiting GIBT players. The friendships that have developed through these arrangements have been many and long-lasting.
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From its inception in 1953 through 1977, the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament was a popular alternative for the Tournament of Champions (TOC), and both events were held at the conclusion of the basketball season. In fact, the GIBT became so popular and competitive that two teams, who had earned the privilege of participating in the TOC, chose to play in the GIBT instead. This issue caused the CIF officials to make the decision to have only one post season tournament to determine the ultimate champion. This change occurred in 1978 - the only year the GIBT did not take place. Gridley High School resumed the event in the fall of 1979 as a pre-season tournament, and since then it has continued to be one of the most prestigious varsity basketball tournaments for high school boys in Northern California. We believe that the GIBT is the longest running tournament of its kind in California.
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Gridley High School and the GIBT Committee would like to thank everyone who has supported the GIBT throughout the years – students, players, parents, businesses, visitors and friends. You are a huge part of our success and have helped make the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament a Northern California tradition.
Gridley High Basketball Team, 1953
Gridley High, GIBT 3rd Place, 1953
The Brumleys
Jack and Jane Brumley were the Tournament Directors from 1988 until 2003. The GIBT is one of the finest prep basketball tournaments in the western United States, and Jane’s directorship for 16 years along with her husband, Jack, played no small role in raising it to that status. After stepping down from the Directors role in 2003, the Brumleys continued to serve as committee members and contributed to the tournament in innumerable other ways. Jane organized and wrote “The Book” and “The List” that the GIBT Committee continues to follow today.
Sadly, Jack passed away in 2007 and Jane the following summer of 2008. To say that Jane was one of the GIBT’s most devoted, selfless, and competent volunteers does not go far enough. Both of their involvement in the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament was just one of the many ways that the Brumleys served Gridley High School and the town that they loved. We will miss them and remember their hard work and devotion every time we enjoy a game in this great and unique event.