Gonzalez carried Lady Pirates

She is every coach's dream and every opponent's nightmare.

Hidalgo's Victoria Gonzalez was public enemy No. 1 for all the Lady Pirates' foes, and despite that still led the Rio Grande Valley in scoring during the team's history-making season on her way to being named the 2008-09 Valley Freedom Newspapers All-Valley Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Gonzalez, a four-year starter, averaged 25.0 points per game during the regular season and was second in the Valley in rebounding with an impressive 13.9 per game. She also averaged 3.0 blocks per game and 4.1 steals during her final season in a Hidalgo uniform.

The 6-foot post attributes a fair amount of her improvement during the 2008-09 season to offseason workouts that she says paid dividends in what turned out to be the longest modern-era playoff run in girls Valley basketball history.

"It felt like it was all a dream when we walked onto the (Frank Erwin Center) floor. I was like, ‘Wow, this is what D-1 college must feel like and I want to be there someday,' " she said. "I knew we had the potential to make it to state. This was just a very magical season for us."

From the summer to the high school volleyball season, Gonzalez kept with a new strength-training regimen that helped take her game to the next level. She was more physical and swift on the floor, causing fits for opposing offenses and defenses.

"My mom was told about a strength trainer, Jaime Cavazos, and he helped me build the strength and speed I needed," Gonzalez said. "I don't think I would have been as fast and strong if it wasn't for him."

Argyle, which defeated Hidalgo 58-43 in their state semifinal in Austin, was cognizant of Gonzalez's ability, and coach Steve Schmidt said the Falcons needed every player on the floor to slow her down.

"It took all five players on the court," he said during the postgame news conference. "There is no way one could handle her, she is a really good player. We tried to stay all around her, and all five players knowing where she is (on the court) and limiting her to one shot as much as possible. She did grab some offensive rebounds, but she's a great player. You're not going to completely stop her."

Gonzalez ended her career in Hidalgo with 2,470 points, hauling in 2,018 rebounds during her four-year span with the Lady Pirates. Her biggest point total came Dec. 5 against San Antonio Churchill during the McAllen Border Bash Tournament, where she dropped 40 points in a 66-60 win.

The senior post was held to only single digits twice during the season, with each of those coming in blowout wins.

Lady Pirates coach Monica Rodriguez said one of the attributes about Gonzalez that propelled the team to historic heights was her tireless work ethic, one which permeated through the rest of the team during the season.

"He work ethic and discipline on and off the court rubbed off on the entire team," Rodriguez said. "She has been a blessing all year. Offensively and defensively she is a threat, and we are going to miss her. Our girls next year have some big shoes to fill."

Louie Vera covers girls basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com.