It may be Christmas break but one athlete on the Mississippi Gulf Coast truly doesn't know what a break is, playing two different sports for West Harrison High School. Not only is she a leader on both teams as just a Junior, but she breaks school records too. Introducing West Harrison basketball and discus star, Sydnei Barber.

Sydnei Barber is a Junior, dual-sport athlete at West Harrison High School playing both basketball and discus. She started her sports journey by picking up a basketball at the early age of five years old following in the footsteps of her family.

"My mom used to play. I wear her number representing five. My brother and my sister also used to play so that's where I got it from." said Barber. "He does everything for me when it comes to basketball. He's the main reason I've gotten as far as I have along with my team and coaches. I also represent five for him too."

When she's wearing number five on the court, you can definitely tell she's been playing since she was five. She's just about impossible to defend and she's a shooter's worst nightmare.

"I shoot, I'm jumping higher than I ever could believe, I'm rebounding, and dribbling down the court. I'm just trying to help my team as much as I can," said Barber with a smile.

She helps her team to say the very least. The team all together is extremely talented, currently possessing a 17-1 record while undefeated in regional play, but it definitely helps when a player makes school history. This past week, Barber became the Hurricanes all time leading scorer and the first to score 1,000 points in a career.

"It's just really amazing to me, and I'm just happy I was able to continue this tradition for my family and continue to be amazing," Barber said. "I'm just hoping I'm able to encourage people to just get out and do it, and West Harrison hasn't always had the best record, and I just want to show people that we're here and we're staying."

When asked what motivates her both on and off the court, Barber said her family, most importantly her two nieces.

"I've got two little nieces and I'm really one of the only ones in the family that they could see grow while playing basketball and I want to encourage them and show them what it looks like," Barber said.

She has shown them the way and then some, and that's not even the only sport she holds a record in! As a sophomore, Barber broke the school record in discus throwing 122 and 10 inches, which just so happened to be 10 inches further than her older sister who held the record for six years.

"I love her to death and she is one of the main reasons I started throwing. She also held the record for the school that I also broke and I'm just glad that I was able to get out and do that for her too knowing that she got the record and then her sister was the one to continue it on and it's really the only reason I started," Barber said. "You're spinning like crazy and I'm just happy I was able to do that especially for my coach. He helped me get to that point and I'm so thankful for that too."

Whether you've seen her in the throwing circle or on the hardwood, it's easy to be inspired by Barber and her journey. When asked about what she's learned through her journey of sports, this is what she said.

"Even if you feel as though you're not doing as good as you think you are, people are looking at you and thinking 'Wow! That girl is good,' and I just feel like that's the most important lesson is to try to not be hard on yourself," said Barber.