Marvin-elous — Former Payson star making step up to UVSC

OREM — Nine months ago, Sandy Marvin led the Payson Lions to the 4A state title in girls basketball. It was Payson's first-ever state title in basketball, and several decades had passed since the Lions' last state championship in a major sport.

For her 21 points, nine assists, and four rebounds per game, Marvin was named the 4A state MVP. She netted 20 points in the 57-52 championship victory over Timpview.

"I definitely remember that championship game, just playing together as a team," Marvin said. "The crowd, it was just so loud, and all I can say is that we did it."

Now the 5-foot-6 high-energy combo guard faces a rebuilding task just as daunting and improbable as the one she encountered as a freshman at Payson. This time, Marvin's charge is to help Utah Valley State to respectability following a 4-22 mark last season.

"It was a lot like this at my high school," Marvin said. "My freshman year (at Payson), we struggled, too.

"I know it's going to take a lot of hard work here, but I like the challenge. That way, when you accomplish (success), it feels better than when you were up there to begin with."

At Payson, Marvin was all-state and academic all-state in three sports — volleyball, basketball, and softball. She earned recognition as the female recipient of the Wendy's High School Heisman for Utah.

A pitcher in softball, Marvin had set her sights on a softball scholarship growing up. But as time passed and high school came and went, she experienced a change of heart in favor of the hardwood.

"Softball was always there, but there's just something about basketball that I liked better," Marvin said. "I always wanted softball until high school, and then it became basketball. I think a lot of that was because of my high school (basketball) team and coach."

Despite her extensive exploits both on the field of play and off, recruiting interest in Marvin was lukewarm at best. A handful of East Coast schools and Southern Utah were the only ones besides UVSC showing serious interest, so Marvin opted to stay close to home and don Wolverine green.

"(UVSC) is close to home, so my family can support me," Marvin said. "They're always there, no matter what. They've been to every game.

"Also, I'm going into the nursing program, and it's a good place to get a nursing degree."