CHERRY TWP — As the only returning starter from a team that advanced to the District 9 girls basketball championship game last March, Moniteau's Catherine Kelly has some weight on her shoulders this season.

“Coach (Dee) Arblaster is expecting me to be a leader on the court,” she said. “I definitely feel that pressure.”

Through four games, the sophomore guard is handling it rather well.

Kelly's game-high 18 points sparked the Warriors to a 57-37 win at home over Keystone Thursday night.

Scoring in double figures in every contest so far, Kelly is averaging a team-leading 15.2 points per game.

But Arblaster knows Kelly has even more to offer.

“When teams pressure us, she's the one who handles the ball,” she said. “She'll tell you that there are things she can improve on.”

“I can get better with my outside shooting and free throws,” Kelly said.

Winning can only boost the confidence of Kelly and her teammates and the Warriors (1-3) used a dominant run to taste victory for the first time this season.

Moniteau never trailed in the game, but when Keystone's Sydney Bell sank a jumper with 6:15 left in the third quarter, the Warriors' edge was cut to 25-19.

That's when the hosts reeled off a 19-5 run — spurred by multiple baskets from Kelly, Allie Pry and Davina Pry — that gave Moniteau a commanding 44-24 lead after three quarters.

“We doubled down on (Natalie) Bowser and started to hit some shots,” Arblaster said.

Bowser, Keystone's biggest offensive threat, scored a team-high 17 points, but most of them came in the fourth quarter.

Arblaster was pleased with the supporting cast behind Kelly. Davina Pry scored 13 points and added nine rebounds and five blocks, Allie Pry had 12 points and Abbey Jewart eight.

Victoria Pry brought down 10 rebounds.

“Before tonight, our scoring (other than that from Kelly) was decent, but we need all of our starters to contribute,” Arblaster said.

Despite the loss, which dropped the Panthers to 1-3, Keystone coach Andy Traister saw some things his team can build on.

“We were averaging 40 turnovers per game, basically one every other possession,” said Traister, who saw the miscues nearly cut in half Thursday. “We're a young team. We have one senior and she's out for the season with an injury. Now we're a bunch of freshmen and sophomores with two juniors.”

KEYSTONE 37

Mia Traister 3 0-0 7, Ava Patrick 0 1-2 1, Sydney Bell 3 0-0 6, Amanda Reyes 1 1-4 3, Jill Winters 1 1-2 3, Natalie Bowser 6 3-4 17, Jenna Pierce 0 0-0 0, Emma Gruber 0 0-0 0, Ashlee Albright 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 6-12 37.

MONITEAU 57

Abbey Jewart 3 1-3 8, Sophia Fleeger 0 1-2 1, Catherine Kelly 8 0-0 18, Allie Pry 5 2-4 12, Davina Pry 6 1-4 13, Victoria Pry 1 0-0 2, Sydney Bayless 1 0-0 2, Cheyenne Curl 0 1-2 1, Kenzie Arblaster 0 0-0 0, Cara Roxberry 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 6-15 57.

Keystone 5 9 10 13 — 37

Moniteau 17 6 21 13 — 57

3-point goals: Keystone 3 (Bowser 2, Traister); Moniteau 3 (Kelly 2, Jewart).

Monday: Brockway at Moniteau