By Mike Bowen
Times West Virginian
RACHEL — Mariah Byard has come a long way since being a ball girl for the North Marion Huskies during her elementary school years.
She joined the Huskies as a freshman and led the team to a state tournament appearance. Her sophomore year she led North Marion to the school’s first girls’ basketball state title.
And now she is the 2009-10 West Virginia girls’ basketball state player of the year.
“Wow, I really didn’t expect this,” said Byard, who thought it was a joke when first informed of the award. “I mean, I’m a junior, I thought there was a chance, but I didn’t expect to win.”
Not only did she win, but soundly.
