Malott, Wildcats Hope To Stay In Playoff Contention

Justin Malott and the Har-Ber Wildcats play at Van Buren tonight in a game that could help decide one of the final playoff spots in the 7A/6A-West.
Justin Malott and the Har-Ber Wildcats play at Van Buren tonight in a game that could help decide one of the final playoff spots in the 7A/6A-West.

— That’s the position Springdale Har-Ber is in following a 61-51 defeat at Bentonville on Tuesday.

Har-Ber was competitive throughout the game after getting bashed 72-57 by Bentonville on Jan. 8, when Nick Smith set a school record with 44 points against the Wildcats. Smith scored 23 points in Tuesday’s rematch.

Profile

Justin Malott

SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber

CLASS: Senior

POSITION: Guard

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 190

NOTEWORTHY: Averages 8.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. ... Will consider running track for Har-Ber after basketball season ends. ... Transferred from Hot Springs Lakeside after his family moved to Northwest Arkansas. ... His father, Jeff Malott, is head of the radiology department at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. ... Also plans to go into the medical field after college.

“We had three guys in double digits and played more as a team,” said senior Justin Malott, who led Har-Ber with 16 points. “We didn’t back down. It’s something we can build on.”

Har-Ber (8-15, 3-6) will get its opportunity tonight in an important 7A/6A-West Conference game at Van Buren (10-12, 3-6). The Wildcats and Pointers are tied for the final playoff spot ahead of Rogers High (8-14, 2-7) and Rogers Heritage (9-12, 0-9).

Playing in the state tournament has been a goal for Malott since he moved from Hot Springs with his family three years ago. The Wildcats are in better position after winning only three games last season, but there’s still much work to do with five league games left to play.

One of those games is against league-leading Fayetteville (19-3, 9-0), which won the first meeting this season 81-58. The others are against Springdale High, Rogers High, Rogers Heritage and Van Buren, which lost 56-52 to the Wildcats on Jan. 11.

“We’ve got plenty of work to do, but I think we can get it done,” said Malott, who transferred from Hot Springs Lakeside.

Malott has been a leader on a team that includes only three other seniors, Alex Rice, Nelson McCoy and Andre Barrows. Rice leads the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game, followed by Malott, a 6-foot-3 guard who averages 8.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

“Justin brings toughness and a lot of energy to our team,” Har-Ber coach Adam Simmons said. “He’s not afraid to get in there and mix it up a little bit. He’s kind of separated himself over the last two or three weeks as a guy we can really count on.

“He’s getting it done with his rebounding and ability to shoot the basketball.”

Regardless of how Har-Ber’s season ends, Malott said he’s enjoyed the competition in the 7A/6A-West after transferring from Hot Springs Lakeside, a Class 5A school. He’s improved enough as a player to consider continuing his career in college, even if he has to as a walk-on.

“It was easy for me after transferring from Lakeside, even though Har-Ber is a lot bigger school,” Malott said. “I like playing with my teammates, and the competition in the 7A-West is a lot better. Hopefully, we can make the playoffs and be a part of that.”

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