Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Wingstop Player of the Week: Western’s Gonzalez eyes leading her team to state

Destiny Gonzalez — Western HS

Special to the Sun

Destiny Gonzalez, a senior forward on the Western High girls basketball team, is the Wingstop Player of the Week.

Two seasons ago, the Western High girls basketball team was three points away from qualifying for the Division I-A state tournament in Reno.

Destiny Gonzalez, the Warriors' senior forward, quickly changes the subject when asked about a narrow loss to Desert Pines one game shy of the four-team state event. But the Warriors, with Gonzalez leading the way and typically the best player on the court, will likely get another chance at reaching next month’s tournament.

Gonzalez is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading Western to a 5-1 record in Sunset League games. She’s our Wingstop Player of the Week.

“She’s just athletic. More athletic than a vast majority of the people we have here,” Western coach Chip Nelson said.

Defending state champion Spring Valley is the favorite to repeat, leaving Western and Faith Lutheran in the Sunset, and Chaparral and Desert Pines in the Sunrise fighting for the last berth from Southern Nevada at state in Reno. While Gonzalez leads Western on the score sheet, she says it’s her teammates who make the Warriors a threat.

“We have a more complete team. We are more balanced,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez does a little bit of everything. She can play in the post with her back to the basket, is shooting 30 percent on 3-pointers and periodically is asked to bring the ball up the court.

“She goes hard all the time,” Nelson said. “She feels like she can be better than everyone else.”

The 6-foot-1 Gonzalez also was one of Western’s top volleyball players and was voted second-team all-Southern Region. She’s being lightly recruited in both sports, but has received interest in recent weeks from lower-classification colleges.

Before college, though, Gonzalez is eying a strong ending to the season. State is in Reno — a big reward for players because it involves a multiday trip and playing at UNR.

“That would be the perfect ending,” she said with a huge smile.

Wingstop provides a $50 gift card to the player of the week.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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