CHERRY TWP — The Moniteau boys basketball team's home game against Union Monday night was all about settling the score.

The Warriors had lost to the KSAC South Division leading Knights 51-46 on the latter's floor Jan. 24.

This time around, Moniteau held Union to 12-of-48 shooting (25 percent) in a 48-40 win.

The Knights' lead over Moniteau in the race for the division crown now is 1½ games.

“This is why I knew we had to beat (the Warriors) at our place a few weeks ago,” said Union coach Karen Davis. “It's always tough on us down here.”

Moniteau led 30-29 after three quarters, with Kyle Armagost (21) and Zach Sloan (nine) accounting for all of the Warriors' points.

But Andrew Armagost and Heath Lominski each scored a bucket, helping Moniteau to open the final period with a 6-0 run to take a 36-29 lead.

The Knights got to within four points 8 after Trent Corle's basket with a minute left, but Moniteau closed the game on a 6-2 run.

Kyle Armagost scored 27 points and Zach Sloan had 15 for Moniteau. None of their teammates scored more than two.

“We are looking for other kids to step up big time,” said Moniteau coach Randy Armagost. “We're just not getting any consistency from the other players.

“But they did step up in the fourth quarter tonight,” he added. “We got some big baskets and we didn't turn the ball over like we sometimes do late in the game.”

The Warriors (11-7, 8-5) held a 26-16 edge at halftime, but encountered an inspired Union squad in the third quarter.

The Knights (11-5, 9-3) forced Moniteau into six turnovers in the period and outscored their rivals 13-4 to trim the deficit to one point with eight minutes to go.

“We played good defense in that third quarter,” said Davis. “We rebounded well and didn't let Moniteau get second shots.”

Corle paced Union with 14 points.

Sloan had 11 rebounds for the Warriors and Kyle Armagost grabbed 10.

“Sloan is a special kid, very coachable,” Coach Armagost said of his senior forward, who is averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. “He doesn't believe he is as good as he is.”

Note: Kyle Armagost has 982 points entering Wednesday's home game against Redbank Valley.

UNION 40Taylor Smith 2 0-0 4, Brody Pollock 3 2-5 8, Shawn Booth 1 5-7 8, Trent Corle 4 6-7 14, Aaron Graham 0 2-2 2, Derek Shirey 2 0-0 4, Austin Davis 0 0-2 0.

Totals: 12 15-23 40.

MONITEAU 48Kyle Armagost 11 4-5 27, Zach Sloan 6 3-7 15, Andrew Armagost 1 0-0 2, Heath Lominski 1 0-0 2, Ethan Pry 0 2-2 2, Mitch Hunter 0 0-0 0, Dalton Shuler 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 19 9-14 48.

Union 6 10 13 11—40Moniteau 12 14 4 18—483-point goals: Union 1 (Booth); Moniteau 1 (K. Armagost).

Wednesday: Redbank Valley at Moniteau; Union at Ford City