Miami Christian’s Enjulina Gonzalez is Miami-Dade 4A-2A Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year

Enjulina Gonzalez had six seconds left in the final basketball game of her high school career when she picked up her fifth foul in the Class 2A state championship. As Miami Christian’s standout guard left the court, a smile appeared on her face.

“I knew the game was over,” Gonzalez said. “I was just excited. I got to the bench and I hugged my coach. I thanked my teammates.”

Seconds later, the Victors celebrated their second consecutive state title.

And her teammates thanked her back.

Gonzalez was a driving force in Miami Christian defending its Class 2A state title, and it’s why she’s the Miami Herald’s Class 4A-2A Miami-Dade Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Gonzalez, who is signed to play collegiately at Mercer University, averaged 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game for a Victors team that went 21-8 this year. She stepped into the primary scoring role this season after Gabriela Bendeck graduated last season.

The transition was effortless, and Gonzalez rose to the occasion.

“She holds the team together,” Miami Christian coach Chanel Davila said. “She’s an energy. She’s a big fighter, especially in the paint.”

It showed up when it mattered most. In five state series games, starting with the regional quarterfinals and ending with the state championship, Gonzalez averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 5.8 steals per game. She had a double-double in the 66-59 win over Orlando Faith Christian for the Class 2A state title, scoring 24 points with 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center.

“She went out with a bang,” Davila said. “She’s ready for the next level.”

And Gonzalez is ready to see Miami Christian’s success continue from afar. She got to experience the Victors turning into a perennial contender first-hand. The preseason workouts and the freedom the coaching staff gave players to expand their skill sets helped mold her into a better all-around player.

“Our coaches, they develop us with everything,” Gonzalez said. “They don’t stop us. They don’t keep us short. Everybody’s shooting threes. Everybody’s getting the same reps as everybody else. ... It’s just confidence it gives us throughout the whole season. That brings us to this and is just going to continue going for next year and the next year and the next year.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 11:15 AM.