SPOKANE — Sophomore Cameron Moore entered the boys basketball season as an unknown quantity to those unaffiliated with Neah Bay basketball.
As a freshman, Moore wasn’t a member on last year’s state-title winning Red Devils. He made the varsity but had to quit to focus on getting his academics in order.
Missing out on the basketball-crazed community’s first-ever state basketball championship was painful … and a motivating factor.
“That hurt me. I sat in my room for a good three days listening on the radio,” Moore said.
“I came just for the state championship game and it was fun to watch, I’m so glad they won, but it kind of hurt a little bit to not be apart of it.”
If Neah Bay survived last night’s loser-out contest with Taholah [after press deadline], he’ll have a chance at washing away that hurt.
After taking opposing teams by surprise during a superlative sophomore season he’ll exit Spokane Arena, site of the Class 1B state basketball championship, with a target on his back for next year.
“Last year, of course, he quit which was unfortunate,” Neah Bay senior Kenrick Doherty Jr. said.
“But I told him going into this season, I was like ‘the key factor next year is going to be you. Whether you believe it or not you are going to start. Teams don’t know who you are, they’ve never seen you play, so you have got to come ready to play.’ ”
Moore has done just that for the Red Devils, leading the balanced Neah Bay offense with 13.7 points per game in the regular season to go along with 4.3 rebounds (fifth on team), 2.4 assists (third) and 1.8 steals per game (third).
“What’s great about Cameron is he is the unassuming quiet young sophomore, but at the end of this year everbody will know who Cameron Moore is,” Red Devils head coach Ben Maxson said.
“He benefits a little from the experience and veteran status of playing along with Kenrick and Rweha [Munyagi] Jr. on the other side of the wings, but Cameron has his own name to be made. And he has plenty of time to do it.”
Moore said his confidence has grown more and more since he scored 19 points in his first varsity game
He credits a mantra from his mother for some of his success.
“My mom [Lona Parker] told me confidence is key,” Moore said.
But Moore has never truly been shy on the court — even dating back to the middle school playground.
“He’s been my little brother, my best friend since he was in sixth grade,” the elder Doherty said.
“It started his sixth-grade year, and I was in eighth grade and of course if you are in the middle school, eighth grade, you are top dog. And here’s this kid coming in, he wants to play 21 with us. And you’re like, ‘Who is this?’ And from right there, I knew there was a spark to this kid that would show up when we get older.”
Moore has provided a big-time scoring spark for Neah Bay: he has three 20-plus point games, including a standout 25-point performance in Tri-District play against Cedar Park Christian of Mountlake Terrace.
“I love the way he attacks the rim, how he penetrates, and he can pop a shot,” Maxson said.
Moore is building up his own reputation as another in a long line of distinguished Neah Bay ballers.
He said he models some of his game, which features a steady stroke from outside, plenty of penetration in the lane and some slick dribbling from Doherty.
“We’re great friends, brothers to the end. Been there for each other on and off the court.
“I base my game off him. Everything he does I try to base my game off his. I idolize him. I love that guy.”
Moore also has shown flashes of filling the big hole left by the graduation of All-Peninsula MVP and 1,000-plus point scorer Ryan Moss.
Moss like Moore also was fond of slashing to the rim or stopping and popping from 3-point range. He also had a superb sophomore season while playing alongside older established players like Abraham Venske, John Reamer and others.
“He’s another guy that I’ve watched forever,” Moore said. “He always trusted his shot and that’s something a shooter has to do, have that faith in your shot.”
Moss’s career ended with him hoisting the gold ball at center court at Spokane Arena.
Maybe Moore can cap his first varsity season by doing the same.
