CHERRY TWP — She's stronger. She's quicker. She can jump higher and she can still shoot.

And yes, she's still tall — very tall.

Moniteau 6-foot-1 senior center Emma Bair is also ready to lead.

“I'm the only starter coming back,” said Bair, who was surrounded by a veteran Warriors' girls basketball team led by Kristina DeMatteis, Alazia Greaves and Sara Hull last season. All three graduated after a 19-5 campaign. “I'm going from being a helper to them to being a leader for this team. It's something I've never done before.”

But it's something Bair is eager to do.

She watched the seniors carefully last season, picked their brains, and is trying to emulate what they did — on and off the court.

“I really watched Kristina,” Bair said. “She was amazing in all aspects of the game. I watched her in the post because I knew that was what I'd have to do more of this year.”

Bair will be asked to do a lot more.

Last season as a complimentary player to DeMatteis and Greaves, who combined to score 30 of the team's 51 points per game, Bair still averaged nine points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Bair was a prolific outside shooter, which belied her tall, lanky frame.

“A lot of people tell me that,” Bair said, laughing. “No one thinks a big, tall girl can shoot. Or drive to the hoop. That's something I've really worked on, too.

“I was never really good at that when I was younger,” Bair added. “But I worked on it and it helps if you're tall and you can shoot from the outside and dribble.”

Bair, though, will be asked to play more in the post this season — a role she takes seriously.

She worked hard in the offseason to get stronger so she can bang around with physical players in the paint.

Bair also honed her post moves over the summer.

“We do a lot of drills in practice,” Bair said. “I ran a lot, and after practice, I'd lift a lot. I do feel like I'm a lot stronger. I felt weaker last year.”

That's not good news for the rest of the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.

“She's a match-up problem for most everyone, for sure,” said Moniteau girls basketball coach Dee Arblaster. “She can shoot the 3 and she's taking the ball to the hole a little bit. She's worked hard on her inside game. She's definitely going to be our go-to girl this season.”

Bair said she's ready for that responsibility.

She's comforted by the fact that there's talent around her, even though many outside of the gym may not realize it.

Yet.

One of those burgeoning talents is Bair's sister, Izzy, a junior.

Emma Bair said she admires her younger sister.

“She's always been super aggressive,” Emma said. “Even though I'm older, I've always kind of looked up to her because she isn't afraid of anything and has so much confidence in herself. That's something I'm trying to be.”

Emma has also tried to help prepare her younger sister for her expanded role this season.

“I kind of beat her up in the paint,” Emma said, chuckling. “But if she can score on me, she can score on a lot of people.”

Another big part of Emma Bair's game is her ability to alter and block opponent's shots.

She easily led the team blocked shots last season.

But that came with a price. Bair found herself in foul trouble an uncomfortable amount of time.

It's something she's striving to correct.

“I did have a lot of blocks, but I also had a lot of fouls,” she said. “I worked on going up straighter so I can still get blocks and won't get fouls. That way both me and coach will be happy.”

Bair hopes there will be lots of happy faces this season for the Warriors.

“I'm excited because we work so well together,” Bair said. “Everyone has something they're really good at.”