Sportlight

Highland’s Ness scoring in double figures

By Bond Brungard
Posted 2/7/19

Cameron Ness, at 6-feet, 10-inches, has been Highland’s big man since he joined the boys’ varsity team as a freshman. Ness is now a senior, and he’s playing in a comfort zone this …

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Sportlight

Highland’s Ness scoring in double figures

Posted

Cameron Ness, at 6-feet, 10-inches, has been Highland’s big man since he joined the boys’ varsity team as a freshman. Ness is now a senior, and he’s playing in a comfort zone this season and scoring with double figures.

“He’s playing a lot more aggressively,” said Mike Milliman, Highland’s coach. “He’s posting down low, getting the ball and taking it to the hoop.”

Ness started playing basketball six years ago, and his 23 points Friday led the Huskies during a 71-68 overtime road victory against Wallkill.

“I kind of played since I was tall,” said Ness, after beating Wallkill. “As I kept playing, I grew to love it.”

And as he’s been playing the game, his confidence has grown, and this season he has helped lead the Huskies to a sectional berth after Highland improved to 9-6 with the victory over Wallkill.

Ness’ post work, scoring and rebounding, can overshadow his selflessness as a passer and solid team player.

“He passes the ball very well,” said Milliman. “If we ever start making our open shots, because everybody doubles and triples him, he’s an excellent passer, and we have to start knocking down shots.”

After the postseason ends, Ness will graduate in June before heading far north toward the Canadian border to play basketball at SUNY Plattsburgh, where he plans to study business.

A final solid season in high school will lead to bigger challenges on the collegiate level, and Ness knows what he needs to do before he starts playing college ball. Ness has become more aggressive as the years have passed at Highland, and his comfort level and confidence are apparent watching him this season.

Now he wants to become a more complete player en-route to the Champlain Valley to play at Plattsburgh.

“I think I need to work on quickness,” he said, “being agile and being able to move quickly.”