Lately, I've been a hot shooter on the basketball court.

I have always considered myself a much better defensive player than offensive and a much better coach than a player. But I've been lighting up the scoreboard in my two weekly pickup leagues at churches in Woodbury and Maplewood, and I wasn't so bad at the Maplewood Community Center last Saturday.

Last Sunday, I scored about 25 one-pointers (we score what would normally be two-pointers as one point and three-pointers count as two), almost half of my team's points toward the end of the night.

I must admit that I had some tough defenders on me, as well, and I did get blocked pretty badly once. One of the defenders got me for a charge. I disagreed with both calls, but whatever -- it's pickup basketball.

Last night, I coached my team of high school seniors in a practice at my alma mater, North High in North St. Paul. They play rec ball in Maplewood. There, I shot well, too.

That's what shooting buckets four days a week and working out the other three days will get you. The more you work out, the better you play.