SPRINGDALE -- There is no doubt Malik Monk of Bentonville is the top player in the 7A-West Conference, but what about the league's most underrated player?
A strong case could be made for Mason Cline, a senior guard from Springdale Har-Ber. Cline was the leading scorer for a losing team last season, and he's averaging 17 points a game this year for the Wildcats (12-3, 2-0), who are ranked fifth overall and third in Class 7A.
At A Glance
Mason Cline
School: Springdale Har-Ber
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
Notable: Returning leading scorer for Har-Ber, which is ranked fifth overall and third in Class 7A. … Averaging 17 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a senior. … Shooting 88 percent from free-throw line and 52 percent from the field, including 47 percent on 3-point attempts. … Scored 23 points in a victory over Wynne earlier this season.
"Mason is shooting 47 percent from the 3-point line, yet you rarely see any ink on him," Har-Ber coach Scott Bowlin said. "His numbers equal or are better than a lot of guys you read about, so, yes, I'd say he's very underrated."
Cline (6-foot-4) can't match the other top guards in the league with his leaping ability, and he doesn't penetrate like his teammate, Tereke Eckwood, who is committed to Central Missouri State. But Cline, who's received very little interest from colleges, is a consistent scorer and a good enough defender he often guards top scorers from opposing teams.
He was guarding Chris Owens on Tuesday when Owens missed a 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left to give Har-Ber a 59-56 victory over Springdale High. Cline had 12 points in the game after scoring 17 against Rogers High to begin conference play.
"He's a 6-4 shooting guard who I've seen score against some of the best competition in Arkansas and Missouri, yet he can't get an offer from a D II school," said Bowlin, a veteran coach of more than 30 years. "I can't figure that one out, either. I would think that someone who can shoot like Mason and put it on the floor a little bit, there would be a place for him."
Cline, who is also a top student, said he's not bothered by the lack of recognition. He said he's more concerned about helping Har-Ber win after playing on losing teams the past two seasons.
"Any lack of recognition just motivates me to get better every day," Cline said. "I think that's really geared more toward our team, and it motivates all of us. Last year, we couldn't make a play when we needed, but it's different with the guys we have this year. We'll have somebody who can step up when we're grinding at the end."
Cline said earlier this year he was not concerned that his production would go down after Har-Ber added four transfers to the roster. He's still scoring at a brisk pace, and the new players have blended with the Har-Ber holdovers to form a team that could be dangerous in the state tournament, which Har-Ber will host.
"Mason is a great teammate and a phenomenal shooter, for sure," said Avery Benson, a sophomore guard who transferred from Siloam Springs. "He's been a secret weapon until now because he's lighting it up from beyond the arc."
Sports on 01/16/2015