It was the very start of a new basketball season at the Panther Den in Heber Springs. The gym had its typical smell of popcorn and a freshly waxed floor.

Coach Cannon Davis, who is the youngest head coach in the school's history, stood there with a whistle and a dream, as he was directing practice.

His team was ever so talented, but lacked effort and togetherness. All of the players wanted to be "that guy", or the star of the team.

During the first practice of the season, passes were out of control, players clashed, and the effort among them was low.

Coach Davis got the team huddled up at half court and called out, "I can draw up all the plays in the world, but if y'all don't give 100% effort, there's nothing I can do. Y'all need a new mindset."

The players rolled their eyes, as they've heard something like this saying before. One of the players said, "mindset doesn't win games though."

Coach Davis responds and says "actually, it does win games. It separates good from great." As he handed out a paper that read HARD WORK BEATS TALENT, WHEN TALENT FAILS TO WORK HARD.

Coach Davis then went on to mention how every minute of playing time was to be earned through maximum effort in practice and games.

His players just brushed everything he said off, until the first game rolled around against a big rival. They ended up losing by 30 points.

Not a single word was uttered in the locker room after the game. Coach breaks the silence by saying, "I'm extremely disappointed with all of your effort levels tonight. If that's all I'm going to get out of my best players, then I'll gladly play a new starting 5 until I'm pleased with effort."

The next morning before school, Coach Davis got to the gym and realized that the lights were on. He went out on the floor and saw two of his starters shooting on the rebounding machine. He didn't say anything to them; he just watched happily as he realized he might have woke them up.

The second game rolled around, and Coach Davis started the same 5 to see if anything changed. They talked more on the floor, became more unselfish, and fought hard for every loose ball. They still lost, but this time only by 10.