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A golden night for Knights
Union easily tops frustrated Moniteau boys
By Mike Kilroy
Eagle Staff Writer
CHERRY TWP— It was a familiar refrain for Moniteau.
Meanwhile, it was music to Union's ears.
Five players scored in double digits for the Golden Knights, including a 20-point, 17-rebound effort from A.J. Ethriedge as the Union boys basketball team pulled away from the Warriors with a 76-57 road win Thursday night.
Moniteau coach Randy Armagost bemoaned the fact that his team was within striking distance in the second half, but lacked the means to do anything about it.
"We have been in every game," Armagost said. "The final scores end up being by 20, but in the middle of every fourth quarter, we're in the game. We just can't make that move to get over the hump."
It happened again against Union, which built an double-digit lead in the first half and spent the rest of the game keeping Moniteau at arm's length.
Union (9-4 overall, 8-2 in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference) led by two points at the end of one quarter, but used a 12-3 run to take an 11-point lead.
That advantage never dropped below seven the rest of the game and grew as large as 21 points.
"This is a tough place to play," said Union coach Karen Davis. "Every game you go into, you never know. Even if their record isn't very good, they can beat you."
Scott Booth came into the game as Union's biggest scoring threat and the sophomore had 13 points by halftime.
But in the second half, Moniteau was determined to neutralize the Knights' burgeoning star.
Instead, Ethriedge took over.
After not attempting a shot in the first quarter and scoring only six points in the first half, Ethriedge dominated in the final 16 minutes.
He collected 12 of his 17 rebounds and 14 of his 20 points in the final two quarters.
"He's really come along," Davis said. "He moved in here during the 10th grade from Georgia and he'd only played one year of junior high down there, so he was green. He's very athletic.
"Someone else has got to step up. I told Scott they are going to double team you. That's why the other guys are so important. Teams will realize it is more than just one person and that will loosen things up for Scott."
Booth finished with 16 points. Cody Mortimer added 13 points, thanks to a 9-of-11 effort from the free throw line, and Spencer Varner and Clay Burns each scored 11 for the Knights, who are now alone atop the KSAC standings.
For Moniteau, it was the Tyler Armagost and Josh Loos show — again.
Tyler Armagost finished with 22 points and Loos wrapped up his night with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but eight of those boards came in the first half.
Poor foul shooting has dogged the Warriors and it did so again against Union as Moniteau (3-10, 2-8) shot 10-of-27 from the line.
"I think this place is jinxed," said Randy Armagost. "We've never shot free throws well here. Teams who come in never shoot free throws well here. I don't know what it is. It's a mental thing."
Toss Mortimer's free throw shooting effort out and Union was 7-of-16 from the line.
But Moniteau's poor free throw shooting helped Union slip away.
And now the season is rapidly slipping away for the Warriors.
It may have been over before it started because of lingering football injuries.
Tyler Armagost is still not 100 percent and there has been talk of shutting him down for the season. Potential starters MitchCzech and Ricky Best were also lost for the year.
Add that to a team that was young to begin with and it spelled trouble for the Warriors.
"We're so young," Armagost said. "It would get better if we could win some games. We're playing with nine kids with no varsity experience."
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