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MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Maryah Sydnor (center with back toward camera) is flanked by her teammates after she made the game-winning basket and was fouled with 9.1 seconds left in the championship game last week.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Radford High School's Maryah Sydnor (center) drives against the Floyd County High School defense during the Three Rivers District championship game in Christiansburg on Feb. 17. Radford won the championship game 53-51 in overtime.

RADFORD -- In seventh grade, Maryah Sydnor watched her older sister's basketball team win the Virginia High School League Group A state championship.

Five years later, Sydnor is determined to help her own squad win another such title.

Radford High School got off to a great start in those efforts Tuesday, with Sydnor leading the way in a 61-52 VHSL Group A Region C Division 2 victory over Fort Chiswell. Her contributions included 28 points and 14 rebounds.

The Bobcats carried a nine-game winning streak into Thursday's semifinal clash with Chilhowie. The Bobcats' Three Rivers District rivals Floyd County and Glenvar played in the other semi.

As for Sydnor, it was more of the same for the versatile 6-foot-1-inch junior post, who dominated the district this season as the Bobcats raced to a 21-2 record.

Sydnor said she thinks hard work and finishing games will be vital to Radford's continued success.

"We have to stay focused and play the entire game -- not just the first half," she said.

Sydnor's leadership is a critical factor. Her ball-handling skills and court awareness allow her to play any position. She's the top post player as well as the backup point guard.

"She's the heart and soul of our basketball team," Radford coach Kevin Conner said. "Even when she's not scoring for us, her rebounding and her leadership and her effort on defense make us a better basketball team.

"We need her hitting it on all cylinders for us to do very well."

Conner knows that Sydnor is a clutch player.

"Her game always picks up in the postseason," he said. "She has a knack for coming through in tough situations."

After joining the 1,000-point club in January, Sydnor finished the regular season averaging 20.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game.

She is a quiet role model whom her teammates respect.

Although the Fort Chiswell game earlier this week was a little too close for Radford's comfort, Sydnor liked the outcome.

"We didn't play as well in the second half as we would have liked. But we stayed strong and focused, and we pulled it out," she said. "I guess that's all that matters. All that matters is getting the win."

Sydnor scored 20 of her game-high total in the first half.

The Bobcats' star says she doesn't feel any pressure to live up to the hype.

"I just have to keep playing my game every game and play as hard as I can, and we'll be fine," she said. "And if I'm not performing well, there are other girls who can step up. There's no pressure on me at all."

Actually, she's the one who takes pressure off everybody on the team. Humility and a radiant personality become a district player of the year.

"The best thing about Maryah is that she's a better person than she is a basketball player," Conner said. "She's a sweet young lady. She cares about everybody and looks out for people's feelings."

Sydnor is also a standout volleyball player and a straight-A student. She would love to play basketball in college, but her first priority is a top education.

"I want to go pre-med and hopefully work in physical therapy or athletic training," Sydnor said. "I want to do something with sports, and I want to work with people."

Doing something in sports and working well with people, she excels in those right now.