HONOLULU — The Saint Louis hardwood dynasty endured to a fourth year in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Will a fourth straight state crown follow?

Coach Dan Hale’s Crusaders systematically worked through depleted rival Punahou to pick up a 63-56 victory in their home gym for the 2024-25 ILH boys basketball Division I title. After all prep hoops action in the state concluded Wednesday night, Saint Louis was bestowed the No. 1 seed in the 12-team HHSAA D-I championships that begin on Monday.

The Crusaders (13-0) will open Wednesday against the winner of Leilehua and Konawaena to be played at the BIIF team's gym Monday afternoon.

“I think we’re ready,” Hale said before he saw the bracket.

The same nucleus is intact for another run. Guard Caelan Fernando scored a game-high 22 points against Punahou, including four 3-pointers, and big man Pupu Sepulona — a thicker version than years past as he's focused on his football future at the University of Utah — rumbled his way to 18 points to complete a season sweep of league opponents.

Shancin Revuelto stole the ball four times and scored 10 while Keanu Meacham and Stone Kanoa combined for 14 rebounds.

Ethan Chung led the Buffanblu (9-5) with 16 points. Darren Matusda’s squad was without starting forwards Zion White (illness) and Tanoa Scanlan (broken finger).

Saint Louis took a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“They didn’t have Zion, they didn’t have Tanoa, but they had a lot of really good shooters,” Hale said. “We had to just get to our game and not play their game.

“We knew they were going to make a run; you’ve got some of the best shooters in the state on that other side. We just needed to make sure we stuck with what we do, and get the ball inside. When they double inside then we kick it back out.”

After finishing 1-2 in the ILH regular season, Saint Louis and Punahou went straight to the winner-take-all title game in a new format employed by the ILH, which got three state bids this year. Earlier Wednesday, University Lab edged Kamehameha 51-49 in a playoff for the league's third berth. 

Punahou, last year’s state runner-up, hosts Moanalua at Hemmeter Fieldhouse at 5 p.m. Monday. The winner advances to face third-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii at Moanalua on Wednesday.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.