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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Kamehameha's Minns did it all

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Pi'i Minns led Kamehameha to the ILH title.

ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | March 7, 2009

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jesse Nakanishi

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Chasing history and trying to end a 17-year Interscholastic League of Ho-nolulu boys basketball title drought, Kamehameha accomplished its mission and came away with top postseason honors as well.

Warriors senior Pi'i Minns was named the ILH's Most Valuable Player and Jesse Nakanishi was named Coach of the Year by league coaches.

Minns, a 6-foot-3 guard, was a tough-to-defend offensive force and a quick and crafty threat on defense in leading Kamehameha to an 11-1 ILH record and its first league title since 1992.

In one typical all-around performance, Minns scored 26 points and added six rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a key mid-season victory at Punahou.

Minns is joined on the ILH all-star first team by Warriors sophomore sensation Micah Christenson, 'Iolani junior guard Kainoa Chu and senior forward Pablo Warner, Mid-Pacific Institute senior guard Marcus Holyfield and Saint Louis senior forward Dean Viena.

Christenson emerged as perhaps the state's top sophomore and one of the all-around talents.

Chu and Warner helped the Raiders overcome late-season adversity to finish second in the ILH and secure a state tournament berth. Holyfield is a repeat first-team selection, along with Warner.

Viena helped the Crusaders finish third in the regular-season standings.

Nakanishi molded a diverse group of Warriors into a cohesive unit that displayed a balanced effort throughout the season.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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