Saint Louis coach Dan Hale remarked over the weekend that he was not really a fan of the new Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament format that featured a winner-take-all game for the league title at the end of a staggered bracket.

He might’ve had second thoughts Monday as his Crusaders continued their late-season roll, routing Punahou 60-42 at Hemmeter Fieldhouse to claim the ILH championship without the need for an additional playoff game between the differing regular season and tournament champions a la past ILH years.

The two-time defending state champion Crusaders are a strong contender for the No. 1 seed in the upcoming HHSAA tournament as they attempt to become the first to win three in a row since Iolani’s run of five straight from 2002 to 2006.

Saint Louis needed a buzzer-beating layup from Jordan Nunuha in Saturday’s win at second-place Maryknoll to clinch a state berth. With that goal checked off, the next game was gravy, as far as Hale was concerned, but behind Stone Kanoa’s 15 points, five rebounds and six steals and a hot start – the visitors led 13-3 after a quarter – the Crusaders made it 4-for-4 in the ILH playoffs. They knocked out every league opponent except Iolani, which lost to Kamehameha.

Saint Louis (11-3) led by nine at halftime, then dominated the third quarter 17-8 and was content to play Punahou evenly in the fourth.

Forward Pupu Sepulona scored 13 to lead the Crusaders while guard Caelan Fernando added 12.

The Buffanblu (9-2) were already assured a state berth from winning the 10-game ILH regular season. In the new format, it was the first and last game of the ILH tournament for coach Darren Matsuda and his team.

Punahou led by forward James Taras’ 17 points and Ayndra Uperesa-Thomas’ 12.

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