Kamehameha's X factor was its youngest and tallest player.

Micah Christenson, a 6-foot-5 sophomore in his first full season on the varsity squad, was a big presence all season for the Warriors and during their run through the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division I Boys Basketball State Championships. Christenson had 11 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals in last night's 47-45 championship game victory over Kahuku.

The win gave Kamehameha its first state title since 1992.

"This is pretty much the same squad from last year," Warriors coach Jesse Nakanishi said. "Micah came along to this team and took it to another level. Now Pi'i (Minns) had someone he could really find on the outside to dish off. I think he's arguably the best shooter in the state."

Christenson played his freshman season on Kamehameha's junior varsity blue team, then was promoted to the varsity squad when the Warriors qualified for last year's state tournament. He played sparingly, but got the much-needed exposure to pressure-filled situations at the state tournament.

In Friday's triple overtime semifinal win over Kaimuki, Christenson scored a game-high 26 points, and his three-point play gave the Warriors the lead for good in the third overtime.

"It was playing on a huge stage and I felt I had to step up and play my best and do it for all the guys," Christenson said.

Last night, he rebounded a Kahuku missed free throw with 2:08 left in the game, then passed to Chaz Bajet, who drove down the floor for a basket that broke a 40-40 tie.

"I love getting rebounds and slashing in from the wings," Christenson said.

He rebounded a Kahuku miss and was fouled with 15.1 seconds left. He made the first free throw to give the Warriors a 46-42 lead. He missed the second attempt, but that made free throw proved to be enough of a cushion to hold off Kahuku.

Nakanishi said Christenson is one of the most self-confident players he's coached, attributing it to what Christenson's parents "put in him and worked with him."

Before last night's final free throw situation, Christenson scanned the Neal Blaisdell Arena crowd for his father, who was celebrating his 50th birthday.

"I looked over at him and I really wanted to do it for him" Christenson said.