After conquering Kamehameha for the third time this season, Saint Louis now continues on the road to the boys basketball state tournament with a trip to Kailua, Kona.

The Crusaders, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, ran past the visiting Warriors, 49-31, last night to clinch third place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu before a crowd of about 500 at McCabe Gym.

They will now travel to Kona tomorrow to face the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's third-place team, Konawaena, for the final berth in next week's 12-team state tournament.

The first-ever ILH-BIIF play-in game is set for 3 p.m. at Kealakehe High School. Konawaena's gym in Kealakekua is unavailable because it is the host site for the BIIF wrestling championships tomorrow.

"That's how we want it, I want to play more games," said Saint Louis senior center Scott Smith, who scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, made four steals and blocked a shot last night. "This team can do it (get to the state tournament), because we're focused."

After trailing 12-10 early in the second period, the Crusaders (11-3) took the lead for good on Micah McClinton's 3-pointer with 3:45 remaining in the half and never looked back. Jamison Miller opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis up, 21-14, and Kamehameha (7-7) never got closer than five points again.

An 11-4 run that stretched into the fourth period pushed the lead to 36-24, and the Crusaders closed out the game with a 9-0 run to end all doubt.

Saint Louis sank 9 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.

"When they got it inside, we tried to foul them, but they made their free throws and other guys made big shots," Warriors coach Jesse Nakanishi said. "They deserved it."

Crusaders coach Delbert Tengan said his team's success started on the defensive end.

"I thought our matchup zone stymied them a bit," Tengan said. "We came out a little tight in the first half, and that's what you might expect considering what's at stake and the fact we're playing them for the third time, so they know everything about us.

"But our defense was keeping us in the game, and then we finally started converting on the offensive end. Free throws have been a weakness for us over the years, but we've been working on that this week and tonight we made our free throws (13 of 20) and our layups."

SAINT LOUIS (11-3) 7 11 10 21 — 49

KAMEHAMEHA (7-7) 9 5 6 11 — 31

SAINT LOUIS — Ricksson Pacarro 0, Kuli'a Aiona 6, John Quindara 0, Lucas Gonsalves 0, Scott Smith 16, Cole Shidaki 7, Solomona Aigamaua 7, Geordan Hanohano 1, Michael Tuiloma 2, Micah McClinton 3, Jamison Miller 7. Totals 17 13-20 49.

KAMEHAMEHA — Randy Cummings 0, Kawika Lyons 0, Mitchell Kauweloa 0, Andrew Godinet 10, Pono Hanson 6, Rykin Enos 8, Jay Kauka 0, Levi-Jordan Goeas 0, Auwae DeRego 2, Pi'i Minns 0, Conrad Scheidt 5, Kam Downey-Jovanovich 0. Totals 12 3-8 31. 3-point goals: Saint Louis 2 (McClinton, Miller). Kamehameha 4 (Godintet 2, Enos 2).

Reported by Gail Juan

ILH DIVISION II

Between weekly practices at the Central YMCA (Tuesdays and Thursdays), the Coast Guard gym on Sand Island (Wednesdays and Fridays) and its campus outdoor court (Mondays, "rain or shine"), the Academy of the Pacific boys basketball team found its focus this season.

The Dolphins' reward, after yesterday's 56-43 victory over Hanalani at McCabe Gym, is a Division II state tournament berth.

"It feels good, I'm excited for everybody at AOP," said sophomore guard Keoni Daniel, who finished with a game-high 21 points. "Last year, we played around too much at practice, but this year we're more intense."

The Dolphins (12-5) finished fifth in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's Division II regular season, behind Punahou, University High, Hawai'i Baptist and 'Iolani. But Punahou and 'Iolani, which also have Division I teams, do not qualify for the Division II state tournament.

UHS and HBA earned automatic state berths as the top two qualifiers. AOP and Hanalani (11-6) reached yesterday's third-place tournament final to determine the league's third state berth.

This is the inaugural year for the Division II state tournament.

"What (the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association) gave us is not just 12 more teams, but also 12 communities who will get to feel the excitement of a state tournament," said Dolphins coach Tom Shirbish. "Everybody on our campus is walking on air right now."

AOP, located on lower Alewa Heights, has an enrollment of about 110 in grades 9 through 12. Shirbish said seven players tried out for the varsity, and seven for the JV.

"We had to combine them in order to have practices," Shirbish said. "As far as school size, we're probably be the biggest underdog in the state tournament."

AOP (12-5) 14 16 6 20 — 56

HANALANI (11-6) 12 9 12 10 — 43

AOP — Tri Bourne 8, Hoyt Fuller 4, Brad Foster 18, Keoni Daniel 21, Koa Gomes 5, Joshua Chaffin 0. Totals 21 14-22 56.

HANALANI — Justin Delizo 2, David Vidinha 3, Danny Gabriel 2, Samson Aina 4, P.J. Wood 6, Darin Kamealoha 18, P.J. Minaya 3, Andrew Kutaka 2, Jon Cunningham 3, Matt Simbre 0. Totals 16 4-8 43.

3-point goals: AOP none; Hanalani 7 (Kamealoha 4, Vidinha, Minaya, Aina).

OIA TOURNAMENTS

RADFORD 54, CAMPBELL 50

Gary Satterwhite scored 23 points as the Rams captured third place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Tournament.

Jayden DeLizo led Campbell with 21 points.

CAMPBELL (10-5) 14 7 6 23 — 50

RADFORD (11-5) 13 16 13 12 — 54

CAMPBELL — Michael McDonald 2, Jayden DeLizo 21, Patrick Ward 7, Walter Daniels 8, Joseph Atimua 6, Terence Tafai 2, Roshaad Battle 4. Totals 17 9-11 50.

RADFORD — Travis Daniels 7, Justin Lord 4, Stevie Williams 0, Matt Hoover 4, Jared Brown 3, Matt Alofaituli 2, Soosoo Taulelei 4, Gary Satterwhite 23, Antonio Williams 7. Totals 19 11-15 54. 3-point goals: Campbell 7 (Delizo 4, Atimua 2, Ward). Radford 5 (Satterwhite 4, Hoover).

Reported by Kai Enos

MOANALUA 48, KAILUA 42

Steve Austin scored 18 points as Na Menehune took fifth place in the OIA Red Tournament.

Billy Oden led Kailua with 11 points.

MOANALUA (11-5) 14 9 9 16 — 48

KAILUA (9-6) 10 9 5 18 — 42

MOANALUA — Kris Lazarou 2, Jay Yoshizawa 6, Stevie Austin 18, Rob Munoz 0, Josh Kure 10, Roshawn Terry 7, Casey Schuler 0, Ryan Hua 3, Shawn Richey 2. Totals 16 12-20 48.

KAILUA — Gerald Ho 0, Brian Rexroat 0, Tim Maghinay 9, Zachary Akamine 4, Sammy Trueman 6, Dustyn Naki 0, Billy Oden 11, Ryan Naluai 7, Kenny Ellis 5. Totals 19 1-3 42. 3-point goals: Moanalua 4 (Kure 2, Yoshizawa, Austin). Kailua 3 (Maghinay, Oden, Naluai).

Reported by Chassity Granito

FARRINGTON 60, KAISER 57

Christian Hernandez scored 24 points to help the Governors claim third place in the OIA White Conference Tournament.

Andrew Wingert led Kaiser with 18 points.

KAISER (12-3) 12 9 22 14 — 57

FARRINGTON (10-5) 14 9 16 21 — 60

KAISER — Jake Esteban 15, Kalani Calizar 8, TR Phillips 7, Andrew Wingert 18, Tyler Norden 4, Brannon Wong 1, Jeff Gordon 0, Mitchell Nagata 0, Patrick Twohy 0, Rayce Chun-Ming 2, Salele Aliifua 2, Galym Kulou 0. Totals 23 8-13 57.

FARRINGTON — Jordan Ibana 2, Christian Hernandez 24, Dio Labayog 0, Oscar Carter 8, Steven Kamano 3, Bryson Tatupu-Leopoldo 0, Elijah Lesu 2, Ziggy Muramoto 0, Joshua Wallace 0, Rey Bartiana 11, Glenn Ernest 8, Cody Hua 2. Totals 23 5-10 60. 3-point goals: Kaiser 3 (Wingert 2, Esteban). Farrington 9 (Hernandez 8, Carter).

Reported by C'ani Kealoha

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.