CHERRY TWP — If the Moniteau girls basketball team had its druthers, it would never run a half-court offense.

The Warriors want to run.

A lot.

And they did in a 55-19 home win over Forest Area Wednesday night.

“We don’t want to run an offense,” said first-year Moniteau coach Dee Arblaster. “We want to run a fast break to get our points and press. That’s what we want to do.”

Kristina DeMatteis was the main beneficiary of that philosophy against the Fires.

DeMatteis scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter — many on easy, open layups — as the Warriors led 22-8 after eight minutes.

Moniteau’s running game got bogged down in the second quarter and the Warriors (11-5) managed just five points in the frame, but still led 27-10 at the break.

“We’re a much better team when we run the fast break,” Arblaster said. “When we get in a half-court, we get slow. We need to be able to press and run.”

While that wasn’t a problem against Forest — the Fires (4-8) shot just 21 percent from the floor and Morgan Silvis scored 14 of their 19 points — Arblaster said her team will have to get better in the half court come playoff time.

“I still think the running game will be there, but there are going to be times when we have to sit back in the half court,” Arblaster said. “We’ve been working on it and they’re getting better.”

Moniteau point guard Alazia Greaves, who scored 13 points against Forest, said the team loves the offensive philosophy.

“We don’t want to run any plays,” Greaves said. “We just want to run up and down the floor. Push the ball. Fast break after fast break. That is our dream.”

FOREST AREA 19

Chloe Saxton 0-4 1-2 1, Taylor Johnson 1-5 0-1 2, Desiree Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Bianca Hetrick 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Silvis 4-8 6-13 14, Terra Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Rose Triuett 0-0 0-0 0, Jaycee Redick 0-0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Geyer 0-0 1-2 1, Emily Everett 0-0 0-0 0, Glory Wagner 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Cussins 0-2 0-0 0, Casey Cochran 0-1 1-2 1, Jailia Guzzi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 5-24 9-20 19.

MONITEAU 55

Kara Mentel 2-4 0-0 4, Kristina DeMatteis 9-11 2-4 20, Alazia Greaves 5-10 1-2 13, Sara Hull 0-5 0-0 0, Emma Bair 4-11 0-0 8, Kelsey Ripley 2-4 0-0 5, Cambrie Campbell 2-3 0-0 4, Makayla King 0-2 0-0 0, Alex Hartle 0-3 0-0 0, Bailey Hartle 0-0 0-0 0, Andie Arblaster 0-1 0-0 0, Izza Bair 0-1 0-0 0, Kennedy DeMatteis 0-0 1-2 1, Megan Mentel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-56 4-8 55.

Forest Area 8 2 4 5 — 19

Moniteau22 5 15 13 — 55

3-point goals: Moniteau 3 (Greaves 2, Ripley)

Saturday: Moniteau at Venango Catholic