Joseph Kramer has played the waiting game with plenty of patience for Marmion. Now, the sophomore guard is proving he has game. The 5-foot-11 Kramer had the start of his season delayed for six weeks. He sat out the first nine games after having surgery to remove his appendix two days before tryouts began. “I was feeling pretty good after three weeks, but my doctor wouldn’t clear me until six,” Kramer said. “It wasn’t frustrating at all, though. I got to learn a lot, seeing the game from a different view, different perspective. “It helped me come back and be a better player.” Kramer continued that comeback with another strong effort Saturday afternoon, coming off the bench and scoring a game-high 17 points in leading the Cadets to a 49-43 nonconference win. Junior guard Ali Tharwani scored 14 points and senior guard Caden Anderson added seven points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Cadets (8-7). The cherry on top for Kramer was finishing with five 3-pointers. Marmion’s Joseph Kramer (23) drives in for the shot against St. Charles East during a nonconference game in St. Charles on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News) “I think what’s starting to happen is we’re starting to figure out what we’re good at, what we need to work on,” said Marmion coach Joe Piekarz, who has four sophomores in his rotation. “Some of these guys who had never had varsity experience before now do have varsity experience. “It’s starting to slowly pay dividends for us.” Senior guard Marco Klebosits tallied 13 points and eight rebounds to lead host St. Charles East (7-7). Senior guard Sam Tisch added nine points and eight rebounds. Kramer, who is shooting 44% (17 of 39) from 3-point range, ended up breaking a 25-25 tie with a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter to give the Cadets the lead for good. Long-distance shooting keyed Marmion to the victory. The Cadets came through by hitting 50% (10 of 20) on 3-pointers. The Saints only made 22% (4 of 18) from beyond the arc. Tharwani transferred from Metea Valley last year but was eligible to play only at the sophomore level. It did help him get familiar with many of the younger players on the varsity for this season. Marmion’s Ali Tharwani (5) looks for an opening around St. Charles East’s Cooper Jensen (12) during a nonconference game in St. Charles on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News) “I played with guys like Joey and had a leadership role and developed a connection with all of them,” Tharwani said of Kramer. “I trusted them and they trusted me.” Connecting with Tharwani last winter and working with Anderson over the summer has helped Kramer develop chemistry with both players and ease that transition to the varsity level. “We had high hopes for Kramer and then he had that setback,” Piekarz said. “The Plano Tournament was his first extended playing time, and he’s worked his way in.” Kramer lives in Plano, so Piekarz had him pick up some playing time in the sophomore tournament as well since the four-day event was spread over six days. “He lives across the street and he could just walk over,” Piekarz said. “We tried to speed him up a little, help him get in basketball shape.” Marmion went 3-1 at Plano, capping the tourney with a 64-56 win in overtime against Lincoln-Way Central (10-5) in the fifth-place game. Kramer contributed a season-high 18 points. Marmion’s Joseph Kramer (23) follows through on a 3-pointer against St. Charles East during a nonconference game in St. Charles on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News) In six games, Kramer is averaging 10.8 points. Tharwani averages 9.4 points, while sophomore guard Dave Malley follows at 9.3 and Anderson at 8.4. His coach hasn’t been surprised. “Kramer is a very good all-around player and very smart,” Piekarz said. Kramer, who also plays baseball, has enjoyed the progress. “Coming into this season, I thought I was going to have the same role as last year in basketball,” Kramer said. “Coming in and knocking down shots, getting to the rim, finding the open man and playing defense to the best of my ability. “I’m fine with whatever my role is for the day. To help the team out and get a win is fine with me.”