You can preach a message until the cows come home, but sometimes it takes more than words to get your point across.
Entering the girls basketball season with only two seniors, and missing two important injured juniors, California head coach Bobby Sangster fully expected growing pains. The Lady Pintos entered Saturday's National Guard Shootout with a 2-4 record.
"We're still trying to figure out how to win basketball games," he said. "Yes, we're going to make mistakes, and some girls are more solid than others, but we're getting people up to speed. We want to win, but at the same time, we want to learn every night. Once we start learning and winning, we'll return to the Lady Pintos of old."
Those glory days may be coming back sooner rather than later.
Against a tough Hermann squad, the Lady Pintos played their best overall game this season, beating the Lady Bearcats, 49-39, on a neutral court at Fleming Fieldhouse in Jefferson City.