Tired basketball players sprinted back and forth, laboriously dragging themselves through a hot gymnasium while sweating profusely.
Randallstown High's new coach had a most agonizing way of teaching his players about the merits of hard work.
Ninety-four feet each way. End line to end line. Up to 100 times a day.
In the high-intensity world of first-year boss Kim Rivers, there was no room for stragglers.
"At first I had a couple of guys with egos," Rivers said. "But after the first few weeks they understood what my philosophy was and they adjusted."
That philosophy stressed teamwork, intensity on defense and lots and lots of running.
Every time a player made what Rivers deemed a mental mistake, the entire team ran the length of the court and back. When someone attempted a showboat move or threw the ball away, the Rams ran some more.
It's no wonder Randallstown might be the best conditioned team in Baltimore County.
After making it to the Class 3A state semifinals a year ago, the ninth-ranked Rams (20-1 overall, 19-0 in the league) already have clinched first place in the Baltimore County 3A-4A League.
Now, they say they won't be happy unless they run to a state title.
They've already been running circles around their opponents for much of the season.
"They're probably in the best condition of their life," said Rivers. "Right now they could all play an entire 32-minute game with ease. The fact that we have 12 quality players makes it that much better."
When many opponents are gasping for air late in games, the Randallstown players -- most of whom are on the court an average of only eight to 12 minutes a game -- are still locker-room fresh.
"Everybody gets a chance to play," said center D.J. Ward. "That helps a lot. You can just go out there, do what you've got to do, then take a rest and do it all over again."
That, say players, separates this year's squad from last year's.
"Last year we only had seven people committed to playing," said guard Lance Anderson. "This year, we've got 13 horses, and they all came to play."
Tri-captains Anderson (18 ppg), Ward (13.4) and point guard Troy Lewis (over five assists) head the talent pool -- which includes six honor-roll students -- but the Rams added three transfers, led by deep threat Raymond Smith (Mount St. Joseph).
With so many weapons, it's nearly impossible to double-cover any one player. No matter which combination is in the game, the results have been the same.
Pressure defense, multitudes of steals and easy layup after easy layup. Opponents are taking notice.
"I think Randallstown is better than they were last year," said Perry Hall coach Phil Walter, whose team lost to the Rams twice this season by an average of 24 points.
"I think they're probably the best county team I've ever seen, and that's including [former league power] Woodlawn."
Rivers -- a former NAIA All-American at William Jewell College in Missouri, who sometimes dunks with his players in pre-game drills -- said his toughest job has been to get his players to run an offense and lose their street ball habits.
The 33-year-old New York native said that he knew early that his team had plenty of talent. He said his biggest task has been trying to hone it.
"When I first saw them over the summer they had a lot of talent but not very many fundamentals," Rivers said. "It's been a long process of trying to get them to develop skills such as passing, taking offensive fouls and making good decisions on offense. But they're starting to execute pretty well now."
As the mistakes decrease, so do the wind sprints. But Rivers said that all the hard work at practice is now paying off.
"Not only do I notice it, but [the players] notice it," said Rivers. "They'll look for the guys with their hands on their legs, and they know they have the advantage."
Rivers said his long-term goal is to turn the program at Randallstown into "the Dunbar or Lake Clifton of Baltimore County."
Players say their goal is more immediate.
Said Anderson: "If we go to the states, we plan on winning it."