The basketball team started out the school year with a AAA recruitment violation warning. Since it was just a warning, this will not harm the team in any way. In fact, they turned themselves in.

“Once youʼre contacted by a parent youʼre supposed to contact your building principal, and I did not do that immediately. We spoke and instead of even speaking, we just shouldʼve immediately told them to go straight to the principalʼs office,” said Head Basketball Coach Scott Bowlin.

It was the breaking of this rule that caused Bowlin to take responsibility and  turn himself in for the violation.

“Everybody knew what the situation was and no one prompted us. It was just a decision that was collaborated on by all. We needed to do that to do the right thing,” said Bowlin.“Weʼre not on any type of athletic probation, AAA just gave us a warning.”

The rule that was violated is usually met with harsh consequences. That was not the case in this instance.

According to the AAA recruitment violations, a student found to be recruited in violation of this rule may be ineligible to participate in athletics for up to one calendar year.

“I was worried about not being able to play,” said transfer from Jacksonville, Arkansas Kerry Knight. With that worry aside, Knight is ready to start a new season with a new team.

“So far, I have experienced intense practices, and more of a family group. Weʼre seeing the same dream, as in winning championships and many games. We all share the same love for the sport,” said Knight.

“Itʼs a lot more competitive and energetic than Iʼm used to. Coach Bowlin pushes us to be the best that we can be, and thatʼs good for us,” said transfer from Siloam Springs Avery Benson.

Knight came here because of Coach Bowlin. He did his research and decided that Bowlin could help him the most with his basketball career.

“[Har-Ber] had a better educational and athletic program, and I was moving up here with my uncle anyways. I didnʼt want to go to Springdale,” said Knight.

As for Benson, the move was more of a family decision. His dad works close, and his mom found a house she liked in Har-Ber Meadows. Now his dad doesn’t have to make the commute from Siloam to Springdale everyday. However, Benson and Knight were also met with some adversity when deciding to move.

“Others were not so positive, you know it happens. You just canʼt let it weigh you down,” said Benson. “It kind of motivates me to practice harder and play harder. When it gets tough I just think of how itʼs going to pay off.”

“[My past teammates] were upset that I left, coming off of a championship team. They understood and they want me to do the best that I can wherever Iʼm at,” said Knight. “Negativity makes me go harder, thereʼs always someone there watching. It just gives me kinda like a kick in the back to do something with myself.”

Now that the new team members have merged with past players, they have become one family with one dream. The team has embarked on team building “field trips” to get to know each other off the court, which has helped them to accomplish that family relationship.

“We all love each other like brothers. Itʼs a lot of new faces this year but we have become a family and are ready to go to battle with each other when the season comes,” said Cline.

New players mean new talent, and with new talent can come competition between teammates. But this doesnʼt seem like an issue for our Wildcats.

The added pressure and competition for playing time will help the team in the long run. It will cause them to practice and play harder, to become better individually in order to help the team overall.

“Nobody on the team is guaranteed a spot every game. You have to come out and work for it everyday in practice,” said Cline.

As with all athletes, the love of the game is what drives them to play. But when playing time is in jeopardy at the cost of winning games, it can be hard to determine what is most important.

“Winning by far. Itʼs always about ʻweʼ and not ʻme.ʼ Whatever my team needs me to do then Iʼll do it. Thatʼs how we all feel,” said Cline.

Cline revealed that the team is working together toward the same mission; to be the best in the state.

“Our ultimate goal is to be holding that trophy in Hot Springs,” said Cline.