Yesterday, as Chestnut Hill Academy bested visiting Malvern Prep, 61-47, in an important Inter-Ac League game, Cramer cranked up his right arm 12 times. The 6-4, 200-pound junior swingman never missed. He went 8-for-8 from the floor, with two treys among the attempts, and nailed all four of his free throws for 22 points.

Fourteen of his markers came in an 18-12 third quarter, an outburst that expanded a 25-18 lead.

Though Cramer was, by far, the Blue Devils' leading sniper, it wasn't as if he had to worry about being a solo act. CHA shot 21-for-34 from the floor and 10-for-13 on threeballs.

Geez, did Malvern play defense?

"They started out in a zone and that defense has sometimes given us trouble," Cramer said. "But I hit a three and then so did Kevin Maguire and that forced them into man-to-man. From there we kept hitting our shots. It was mostly penetrate and kick.

"That's my first perfect shooting game. Felt pretty good. After I hit my first two shots of the second half, it was, 'Anything I shoot is going to go in.' ''

In last Saturday's I-A opening tripleheader, CHA and Malvern fell to Episcopal and Germantown Academy, respectively. In a six-team league with no playoffs, two out-of-the-gate losses is not considered a tremendous idea.

"We had to win this one, especially since we're going to GA Friday night," Cramer said. "It's strange to be thinking about a 'must game' this early, but we couldn't fall to 0-2. We decided we'd do whatever was necessary to get a win."

Among the tactics: extra shooting drills.

"After [Monday's] practice, no one left," Cramer said. "We knew we had to work some more on our outside shooting since that hurt us against Episcopal.

"Kevin Maguire and I always stay after, anyway. We have some good contests. I always make him stay until I beat him. Sometimes, that takes a little while."

Come Friday night, Cramer can expect some razzing. He attended GA through June 2007, then transferred to Chestnut Hill at the end of the school year. Since he hadn't played varsity there, last year he was eligible to participate in league games for CHA and wound up serving as a starter for a co-championship squad.

Maguire added 15 points (three treys) and three assists. Gary Lawrence, the league's reigning MVP, settled for 14 points and six rebounds while battling foul trouble. Malvern's DeQuann Walker mixed 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals.

Cramer, who lives in Ambler, boasts a 4.0 GPA and 1,410 on the traditional SAT. Ivy League schools are already keeping tabs as are D-III academic pillars such as MIT. "I'm looking at science or math," he said.

Yesterday, each time he looked at the basket, it looked as big as all outdoors. *