Randy Scott honored at Malden's homecoming

MALDEN, Mo. - Prior to Malden’s homecoming game against the Southland Rebels on Friday, Feb. 7, former basketball coach Randy Scott was honored before the home crowd for his historical achievements with the program.

During his 25 years with Malden, Scott led the Green Wave to four Bloomfield Christmas championships, two District titles and a State title in 1985.

Due to the success he brought to Malden and all the care he showed for the players he coached, Malden decided to raise his name in the banners next to the retired numbers of his former athletes, Ray Pugh and Robert Ison.

Along with Scott returning to Malden to be honored, the school reached out to his former players to celebrate his homecoming.

“They called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me what was going on,” Scott said. “They didn’t tell me all of my former players would show up, a lot of them are scattered all over the place now, but it was good to come back and see a lot of the girls and boys who played ball for me and see a lot of my friends from those days.”

This reunion allowed Scott to sit and reminisce on those days with his former players.

They talked about the 1985 run where his team went 30-3, beating Lutheran North 88-67 for their school's first State title. They discussed all the fun trips to Jonesboro, Cape Girardeau and Columbia to compete in high-stakes tournaments.

“We were hot,” Scott said. “We just went on one of those runs where everything just clicked for us. It seemed like whoever I subbed to put in would play even better than the guy we took out. It was a pleasure having them.”

More than the memories and recognition from Malden, Scott said felt gratitude to those players who showed up.

“This was great,” Scott said. “The old place looks the same. I was just glad to see everyone. I saw them a few years ago when they retired Robert and Ray’s numbers but some of these guys I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Finishing out his career at Malden, Scott would record a total of 300 wins with the Green Wave.

His accolades also include the Bootheel Coach of the Decade for the 1980s and the 1985 Bootheel Coach of the Year.

Ison, who is now the High School Principal at Malden, said he was honored to invite his coach back and lift Scott’s name next to his in a gym where they curated history.

“This was a well-deserved award,” Ison said. “I definitely enjoyed playing for him and it was just nice to see him. You don’t see this a lot, having a chance to put a coach's name up with retired jerseys. We have the only State title in school history, so it’s without words.”

In a timely manner, this season marks 40 years since Malden’s historic run at State.

Scott’s mark, along with the rest of the 1985 Malden basketball team, still invites a rich culture for the Green Wave program four decades later.

More importantly, it still invites warm memories for all those who got to play with Randy Scott.

“That team I was on in 1985 is something I think about every day,” Ison said. “Especially now, working here and being around young people involved in sports. Back then, I felt like ‘Okay, we just won a State Championship.’ Coach Randy Scott said ‘You will remember this for the rest of your life,’ and he was right.”