CHERRY TWP — Making the transition from middle school to high school can be tough on any teenager.

Add in two older brothers with a long list of athletic accolades, and some guy named “dad” as the longtime coach of your favorite sport. All of a sudden, the task is much more daunting.

That was the reality for Andrew Armagost during his freshman year at Moniteau High School.

Kyle, Andrew's elder by two years, is a multi-sport standout for the Warriors. Tyler is the oldest of the brothers and enjoyed a stellar athletic career at Moniteau.

Their father, Randy, has been at the helm of the Moniteau boys basketball program for over a decade.

The pressure of living up the family name didn't bother Andrew, though. He developed into a steady source of production for the Moniteau boys basketball squad.

Andrew helped the Warriors reach the Class AA District 9 championship game in his freshman campaign and tallied 5.7 points, 5.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game along the way.

After taking last year off, the sophomore will attempt to make an impact for Moniteau on the gridiron, as well.

What is it like growing up in a household of athletes?It's a challenge. It's a big challenge because we're always trying to be better than each other. It's hard being in a competitive family, but it's fun, though. It's a lot of fun.

Do you prefer to play with your brothers or against them?It's a privilege to play with my brothers. We know each other so well that we know what the other is going to do. We grew up together and we play well together.

Who would win a family game of HORSE?I would like to say myself, but I'd probably say my brother Kyle. He's probably the most athletic out of all of us. Then there's Tyler. It's a challenge between those two a lot. ... I could hold my own, though.

Do you have any interest in sports aside from basketball?I'm playing football this year. It's going to be fun. I didn't play last year because I wanted to take a year off, but I really did miss playing it. I'm probably going to be a guard and middle linebacker. I'm going to try to be one of the starters because there's not that many kids coming out (to play) this year. We need a lot more kids to come out.

Is basketball your favorite sport?Yes, it interests me more. It keeps going, it's like a flow. In football, you have to keep stopping. Basketball, if you have that rhythm, you just keep going and going.

Do you model your game after anyone in particular?No, I just play to help my team out. I don't look to be an All-Star. As long as we play hard, we win and we work together then it's all good.

What was it like going from junior high basketball to varsity?It's a big difference. It's a big jump. It's a lot faster paced. The kids are so much bigger and better than you that you have to work your way up there. It's a big jump, a really big jump.

What do you think your greatest strengths and weaknesses are while playing hoops?I was really shy when I was younger, but playing with the older kids got me to be more social (and confident). My weakness is that I can be cocky sometimes. I don't like to be, but I can be.

Do you have any specific goals for your high school career?We would like to win a D-9 (title) in football and basketball. We haven't won one in a while. I don't think we've won one in basketball at all yet. But that's what I would like to do before I graduate, win a D-9.

You went 0-for-4 in your high school debut, but bounced back and went 6-for-7 for 15 points in your second game. Did you change your approach or was it first-game jitters?It was just getting the first game out of the way. It's always that first game, you know? After that, you're like, ‘Alright, if you can play with your team then you can play with anyone.' You get there and you're like, ‘Alright, just calm down, you can do this. You're fine.'You just go out and have fun. Go play, that's all you've got to do.

Do you ever feel pressure to perform because of your family ties?Absolutely, yes. I do, but I know I can do it. Sometimes that pressure is gone because I know I can do it. So, it's not bad.

What are the pros and cons of being coached by your father?Oh... The pros are that my dad first starting coaching when I was like 5 years old. I was in the gym all the time. Every single day, I was in there. I was with older kids, I was with younger kids. That's what really got me into basketball. Since I was 5, I've had to be the best that I can be.The cons are ... ‘His kid is playing because he's the coach.' You get over that, though, because they'll eventually realize who the better player is. You've got to live with it. You can't really complain.