This year's tournament, however, will be unique for the senior. Her older brother, Brett Sawyer, will be on leave from his tour of duty in Iraq with the Army and will watch her from the stands.

"I'm excited," Sawyer, a center, said. "I haven't seen him forever, and he didn't get to see me in the state tournament last year."

The Bobcats won last year's Class 1-A championship with Sawyer leading the way. Her efforts helped her earn The Tribune's most valuable player award. Sawyer would have loved for her brother to see it.

"He's one of those guys that is always pushing me to be better. He's an all-around great guy, and a hard worker," Sawyer said. "He'll get to see how much I've improved."

Sawyer certainly has improved since last year's championship performance. In helping Panguitch win its sixth title in seven years, Sawyer averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks per game. This season, with opponents double- and triple-teaming her, Sawyer averages 20 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.

Panguitch ended the Region 15 tournament on a 19-game winning streak - the Bobcats swept their league schedule and were 20-1 overall. This year, the team has performed well despite the loss of senior Oaklee Orton to a knee injury in the second game of the season, the Bobcats' only loss.

Orton's absence has allowed defenses to focus more on Sawyer this year, but she still has carried her team.

"She is very athletic," coach Curtis Barney said. "She is so quick and long, with her 6-foot-1 frame, it's just hard to stop her."

Sawyer said increased defensive attention by opponents has made her adjust her game, and made her a better player.

"It's really helped me a lot on my outside game, so it doesn't bug me that much," Sawyer said of the intense focus. "I'm more aggressive on rebounds this year, definitely. I don't hold back as much as I did before, and I know what to expect from my teammates."

Sawyer's natural ability with basketball showed at an early age. Her father, Arlin Sawyer, introduced her to the game. Because of her dad, the Panguitch boys' coach through the 2002 season, Sawyer spent a lot of time playing against boys.

"My dad always says that is where I get my physicalness," Sawyer said. Of all the kids her age, she was the first one to palm a standard-size basketball, in the fifth grade.

Sawyer, also an impressive volleyball player, could compete in college at the Division I level. Utah, Southern Utah and Idaho State are all possibilities, but she has not ruled out playing for a junior college.

"It's always there in the back of my mind, where I am going to go," Sawyer said. She is postponing her decision until after this week's tournament.

In each of the past three years, Panguitch has ended region play in a tie for first place. But this year, the Bobcats went 12-0 in league play. Barney credits his entire team, including seniors Jennifer Perkins and Chelsea Birch, as well as all of his bench players that have filled in for Orton.

State tournaments

CLASS 3-A

Upper Bracket

Judge Memorial (14-7) at Carbon (12-9), 7 p.m.

Grantsville (7-13) at Canyon View (20-1), 7 p.m.

Snow Canyon (6-14) at Bear River (13-8), 7 p.m.

Juan Diego (11-10) at Wasatch (14-7), 7 p.m.

Lower Bracket

Hurricane (12-8) at Logan (14-7), 7 p.m.

Delta (9-10) at Morgan (17-4), 7 p.m.

Union (11-9) at Emery (17-4), 7 p.m.

Ogden (11-10) at Pine View (13-8), 7 p.m.

CLASS 2-A

Upper Bracket

Juab (10-10) vs. San Juan (10-10), 9 a.m.

Beaver (11-9) vs. Richfield (6-14), 10:30 a.m.

South Sevier (17-3) vs. Millard (9-12), noon

Waterford (12-4) vs. Kanab (10-10), 1:30 p.m.

Parowan (10-10) vs. Manti (14-6), 3:30 p.m.

North Sevier (19-2) vs. Rowland Hall (4-15), 5 p.m.

North Summit (13-8) vs. Gunnison (7-13), 6:30 p.m.

Enterprise (10-10) vs. South Summit (5-14), 8 p.m.

CLASS 1-A

Navajo Mountain at Monument Valley, 3:30 p.m.

Monday's Play-in Games

Escalante at Manila, 4 p.m.

Mount Vernon at Piute, 4 p.m.

Salt Lake Lutheran at Tabiona, 5 p.m.

Christian Heritage at Bryce Valley, 3 p.m.

Valley at Intermountain Christian, 4 p.m.

West Desert at Layton Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Duchesne at Whitehorse, 4 p.m.

Altamont at Monticello, 5 p.m.

Tuesday's Play-in Games

Navajo Mountain/Monument Valley at Tintic, 5 p.m.

Wayne vs. Wendover at Tintic, 6:30 p.m.

At the Sevier Valley Center, Richfield

Upper Bracket

Manila/Escalante vs. Piute/Mount Vernon, 10 a.m.

St. Joseph vs. Tintic/Navajo Mountain/Monument Valley, 11:30 a.m.

Green River vs. Tabiona/Salt Lake Lutheran, 1 p.m.

Dugway vs. Bryce Valley/Christian Heritage, 2:30 p.m.

Lower Bracket

Panguitch vs. Layton Christian/West Desert, 4 p.m.

Meridian vs. Whitehorse/Duchesne, 5:30 p.m.

Rich vs. Wayne/Wendover, 7 p.m.

Intermountain Christian/Valley vs. Monticello/Altamont, 8:30 p.m.