"I didn't think this would happen. I thought enough people would realize there's a need for West in the community and that a successful effort would be made to keep it open."
The Burrs, a member since the Catholic League's inception (1919-20 season), played their final game Sunday, falling at Bishop McDevitt, 55-50.
The players and coaches then said what Moore called "their first goodbyes." The second, he added, will follow a team banquet in April.
"I guess we'll have it at school," he said. "If the finances are good, maybe we can have something more extravagant someplace else, so we can send these guys off the right way."
In his regular job, Moore, universally considered a good man, works in customer service for US Airways at the airport. He is also a co-director for the summertime Sonny Hill programs for high school and college players.
What's next for him?
"I'm not thinking about my future until I secure theirs," he said pointedly, referring to the four senior Burrs - Mark Perez, Anthony Fleet, Jaleel Reed (likely headed to college for football; scored the last points on a put-back layup) and Jalen McDonald.
Moore, a Roman Catholic grad, joined North's staff as the freshman coach for 2006-07. His one season as the head coach was 2009-10.
"Everything seemed so positive when I started at North," he said. "There were feelings of optimism and positivity . . . I had no idea that a closure could be happening [3 years later]. At West, we knew we had to get the house in order. That the enrollment was low. I still felt optimistic . . . Then to get the news that West would be closing, too? Just devastating."
Let's see whether someone/anyone connected with Public League sports has guts.
More than ever, coaches of mid- to lower-level hoops programs are complaining that their best players somehow keep transferring to top dogs.
