Moniteau junior Aslyn Pry has become a force for the Warriors' girls basketball team this season, averaging 15.5 points per game — 19 during a recent surge.

CHERRY TWP — Asyln Pry dribbles to her right, dips her shoulder to slip past a defender and puts the ball into the hoop with a soft kiss off the glass.

Later, Pry fights for position in the post, receives a pass and spins to the hoop for another layup.

The Moniteau junior is just as dangerous with her back to the hoop as she is facing it.

That's what has made the junior point guard on the Moniteau girls basketball team a surprising force this season.

Surprising to everyone except the Warriors, that is.

“She really has had a breakout year,” said Moniteau coach Dee Arblaster. “She's grown a lot. She went from being a little kid to a big kid. She works hard, too.”

As a freshman, Pry was 5-foot-6.

Now as a junior, she's sprouted to 5-9 while retaining the quickness and ball-handling skills that made her a guard to begin with.

Pry is averaging 15.5 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.

She had 17 points and 15 rebounds Friday against A-C Valley in a big win for Moniteau, which is turning a slow start to the season into a strong finish.

Pry said she put a lot of work into her game in the offseason, including with her older brother, Lake, who helped her with her post moves.

“He didn't take it easy on me,” Pry said, smiling. “But it helped me get better.”

Pry has been particularly potent during Moniteau's resurgence, averaging 19 points during the Warriors' recent 5-1 stretch that has them at 7-9 and thinking big thoughts for February.

“My teammates are getting me the ball,” Pry said. “We have some good plays set up, so that's helping a lot.”

Pry is also a standout on the volleyball and track and field teams at the school.

During the fall, she recorded 143 kills and helped the Warriors reach the volleyball playoffs for the first time in 13 years.

In the spring, Pry competes in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and runs a leg on he 1,600-meter relay.

That's a lot of miles on the legs, but Pry takes it in stride.

“It wears on me, but I like to keep busy and it keeps me in shape and keeps me going,” Pry said. “All the sports help me be better at each sport.”

Pry said she realizes she has more work to do.

She has struggled of late from the free throw line.

“That bothers me a lot,” she said. “I'm going to work on that.”

Pry said she would also like to shoot better from the perimeter as well.

“I still need to work on my outside shot,” she said. “That's something I can improve on to be an all-around player.”