CHERRYTWP — Tyler Armagost will learn from this experience.

When basketball season rolls around each year, he won't be healthy.

That's what starting as the Moniteau HighSchool quarterback will do for you.

But the Warriors' super sophomore doesn't get caught up in how his body feels in the dead of winter. Instead, he just dishes out punishment to his basketball opponents in as many ways as he can.

Despite a bone bruise on his left knee that requires lengthy icedowns after games and practices, Armagost is averaging 12.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

He also recorded several triple-doubles.

"You just suck it up," Armagost said.

His style of play has changed since his freshman year, when scoring was low on his and the team's priority list for him.

Armagost's role was to keep the offense flowing and not to commit turnovers.

"Last year as a freshman, we kind of made him a point guard," said Moniteau boys basketball coach Randy Armagost, who is Tyler's father. "If he scored, it was a plus. I didn't have a problem saying, 'Tyler, don't shoot the ball.'"

It was easy to say that because the Warriors had a senior-laden team, led by the school's all-time leading scorer, Tyler Grossman.

But this year, the younger Armagost was going to have to score much more with Grossman and others lost to graduation.

Armagost has come through, and he is doing it by splitting time at point guard and in the post.

"I don't really worry about numbers when I go out and play," Armagost said. "I like both positions the same. It doesn't matter to me."

He plays point guard against the better defenses when ball security becomes paramount. Against weaker defenses — ones the Armagosts think they can exploit — Tyler plays the post to take advantage of his still-growing 6-foot, 188-pound frame.

While playing the post, his assists have gone up along with his rebounds.

"When I see the ball go off the rim, I just have the belief the ball is mine," Tyler said.

If there is one area of his game that needs work, it is his shooting, Tyler said.

He's hitting only 35 percent of his shots. As a team, the Warriors are shooting 31 percent from the floor.

But Moniteau is on a roll lately. Following a 22-4 season, the Warriors started the year 4-9 but have won five straight games to pull to .500.

It has both Armagosts thinking another playoff run and a shot at the District 9 Class AA championship.

"That's what I want," Tyler said. "I want to get back and win it. I think we can surprise some people."

Because his father is a basketball coach, Tyler grew up in the gym and idolized players like Grossman.

But he's so good on the football field, his future may lie in that sport.

"I like basketball more," Tyler said. "But I think when it comes to playing in college, I'll have a better chance to get a football scholarship."

That's years in the future, though. His immediate plans are helping his Warriors — and his dad — win no matter what.

"He's 15," Randy said. "He hasn't even peaked yet."