KARNS CITY — As physically gifted as he is, Kyle Armagost's best attribute isn't his speed, power or follow-through.

“It's the confidence he has in himself,” said Randy Armagost, Moniteau boys basketball coach and Kyle's father. “He really believes that nobody out there can guard him.

“He's going to get the ball when the pressure is on, and he wants the ball in those situations,” the coach added.

Only a junior, the 6-foot-1 guard reached 1,000 career points when he netted 18 in a win over Redbank Valley last Wednesday.

With 11 points in limited action during Tuesday night's 65-31 victory at Karns City, Kyle Armagost's total is up to 1,039.

He is averaging 19.3 points per contest this year.

The roots of his self-confidence stretch back long before he put on a Moniteau uniform.

“As a kid, I used to go up against my older brother (Tyler, a 2009 Moniteau graduate) in the backyard,” Kyle said. “He was a great defender and I figured if I could beat him, I could beat anybody.”

When Kyle was a freshman, his father wasted no time putting him on the varsity roster.

“He started at point guard that year,” Coach Armagost said. “And since then, he has played every position for us.

“He's effective everywhere he plays,” the coach added. “He can guard a 6-6 kid and a 5-6 kid. It allows us to do things on defense most teams are unable to do.”

Though his career points total is the most obvious sign of Kyle's success, his game includes much more. As a sophomore, he averaged 7 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.

“Whether it's scoring, passing, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team,” he said. “We especially spend a lot of time in practice on free throws and defense. If you do those things well, the offense comes much easier.”

The Warriors (13-8) host A-C Valley Thursday before beginning a postseason run that they hope ends with the program's first District 9 title.

“It would feel great to bring the title to Moniteau,” said Kyle. “I remember watching my dad coach teams that should've won it, but fell apart because they thought they couldn't play on a big floor like Clarion University.

“But this year's team is more run and gun, so we'll be fine,” he added.

MONITEAU 65Zach Sloan 10 4-6 24, Kyle Armagost 4 3-3 11, Andrew Armagost 1 3-4 6, Heath Lominski 2 3-5 7, Dalton Shuler 1 0-1 2, Ethan Pry 1 0-0 3, Jordan Smith 4 2-2 10, Drew Yeckel 1 0-0 2, Mitch Hunter 0 0-0 0, Colton Cumberland 0 0-0 0, Jarod Alchier 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Loos 0 0-0 0, Joe Holifelder 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 24 15-21 65.

KARNS CITY 31Brad Fuhrer 2 0-0 4, Brandyn Bowser 0 1-2 1, Jake Henry 2 0-0 5, Ethan Williams 1 0-0 3, Brady Ellenberger 0 1-2 1, Tucker Preston 1 1-3 4, Kyle Barger 1 0-0 2, Tyler Kepple 1 0-0 3, Tom Stoughton 0 2-2 2, Zach Kepple 2 0-0 4, Shawn Edwards 1 0-0 2, Mike Sinkevich 0 0-0 0, Dylan Hipple 0 0-0 0, Andrew Johnston 0 0-0 0, Josh Wallace 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 11 5-9 31.

Moniteau 10 18 15 22—65Karns City 2 10 6 13—313-point goals: Moniteau 2 (A. Armagost, Pry); Karns City 4 (Henry, Williams, Preston, T. Kepple).

Today: Karns City at Union

Thursday: A-C Valley at Moniteau