How Kirby Mooney has led William Tennent basketball and broke records along the way

NEW HOPE — Five years ago, Robert Mulville received a call from former Upper Southampton travel basketball coach Ray Horn telling him about an eighth-grader who's "going to be really, really special."

Kirby Mooney proved Horn knew what he was talking about.

On Friday night, Mulville, the William Tennent head coach, watched Mooney, now a senior, become the school's boys basketball career scoring leader with a free throw 1 minute, 23 seconds into a 70-59 victory over gritty New Hope-Solebury. That gave Mooney 1,344 points, surpassing 2002 graduate Frank Moultrie (1,343).

"I talked to him about the record and he said, 'You don't have to do anything' — almost like don't even worry about it," Mulville said. "I was like, 'Well, we've got to have some kind of recognition for it because it's such a big monument, milestone.'"

Mulville called a timeout after the foul shot and Mooney's teammates and coaches congratulated him in front of the visitors' bench to plenty of applause.

"Ever since I was younger, I would go in (the gym) and look at the banner (with Moultrie as the all-time leader)," said Mooney, who finished with 28 points. "I know it's not just about points, but (I was) setting goals for myself."

Mooney joined the 1,000-point club in a Dec. 7 loss to Upper Moreland.

While Mooney's jump shot is much better this year than it was on the way to averaging 23 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, he isn't just a scorer. He jumps center at 6-foot-3 for the undersized Panthers, is tied with senior Imad Abunima as Tennent's top rebounder (7.5 average) and leads in assists (3.5), in addition to averaging 24 points.

"I definitely share the ball and try to make the right play every time," said Mooney, a Southampton resident who started playing basketball at 4.

But what's most important about the slender Mooney is the success he's helped bring to the Panthers.

A year ago, Tennent won a Suburban One League championship (the Freedom Division) for the first time since 2003-04 with then senior George Marion and Mooney leading the way.

The Panthers improved to 14-7 after Monday's 71-53 win over Council Rock South with Mooney again scoring 28 points. They're seeded 19th in the PIAA District One Class 6A playoffs, with 24 teams qualifying. Tennent also made districts a year ago as the 12th seed.

"A lot of our success last year and this year revolves around him," Mulville said. "He's so efficient in his offensive game. … He's just had an incredible work ethic where he's very competitive and that rubs off on other guys."

The last time Tennent reached districts in consecutive seasons was 2003-04 and 2004-05 under current Phil-Mont Christian coach Glenn Dolton, which is likely about to happen again.

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Mulville is Mooney's AP Government and Politics teacher at Tennent and appreciates how Mooney, who has a 3.9 GPA, carries himself on and off the court.

"He's humble," Mulville said. "I see him in the hallway and I see the way he interacts with the kids. It brings a whole positive thing to the team."

Senior Andrew Curtis has been friends with Mooney since first grade at Davis Elementary through Klinger Middle School and Tennent.

"When we see him and we're struggling, he picks us all up and makes us want to play for him," Curtis said. "It means a lot to the program to have him go out there."

After losing in the first round of districts to Haverford a year ago, Mooney and his teammates want to win a playoff game so they can add it to their list of accomplishments. Tennent's last district victory was a 55-50 win over Neshaminy on Feb. 27, 2004, at Council Rock South that gave the Panthers the seventh and final spot in the state playoffs.

"It's definitely been a long time," Mooney said. "Hopefully, this is the year we end the drought."

Mooney plans on continuing to play in college next year, when Mulville will have to replace such an integral part of the Panthers' program.

"It has been a special four years coaching him," Mulville said.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: With Kirby Mooney, William Tennent keeps winning, records keep falling