Top-ranked Kamehameha will seek its first boys basketball state title since 1992 after sophomore forward Micah Christenson scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Warriors to a 63-57 triple-overtime semifinal win over Kaimuki yesterday at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

Kamehameha, the tournament's top seed, improved to 13-1 and will meet second-seeded Kahuku tonight in the Division I championship game.

Kaimuki, ranked fourth in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, fell to 15-6 and will play 'Iolani for third.

Tonight's championship final will be aired live statewide on OC-16 at 7 p.m.

"It's been a while since being in (the title game)," Warriors coach Jesse Nakanishi said. "Our boys have worked so hard every day in practice, so I'm really proud that they'll have this opportunity — just to play in the (championship) game is a thrill."

Kamehameha, which last appeared in the state final in 1994 (losing to 'Iolani), will be making its seventh appearance in the title game.

Kaimuki led for much of regulation, holding leads of 16-10 after the first quarter and 31-29 at the half. Kamehameha took its first lead since the opening quarter on an 17-foot jumper by Christenson to send his team into the fourth quarter with a 41-40 edge.

The Warriors led 45-42 with about three minutes left in regulation after a 10-foot baseline jumper by Christenson, but Jason Nutter tied it at 45 with a 3-pointer to send it into the first overtime.

Each team scored two points in each of the first two overtime periods to send it to a third overtime, tied at 49 apiece.

Christenson put the Warriors ahead for good on a three-point play on their first possession of the period to make it 52-49. After Pi'i Minns made the front end of two free throws, Christenson knocked down two more from the charity stripe to extend the lead to 55-49.

Kaimuki cut the deficit to four points after David Taulung hit a free throw with 3.3 seconds left to make it 61-57, but Christenson made both free throws after he was fouled to seal it for Kamehameha.

"That was really tiring, but we really wanted this win to get to play for that state championship," Christenson said. "We were going to do everything we could to get there."

Christenson, a 6-foot-5 forward, shot 7 of 14 from the field and made 10 of his 12 free-throw attempts.

"This kid is by far, the most confident in his own ability," Nakanishi said of Christenson. "By far, he's the most confident player I've coached."

Kaimuki center Desmond Tautofi — who had 40 points and 25 rebounds in wins over Kea'au and Baldwin — led the Bulldogs again with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Auwae DeRego had 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Blake Viena added 11 points for the Warriors.

KAIMUKI (15-6) 16 15 9 5 2 2 8 — 57

KAMEHAMEHA (13-1)10 19 12 4 2 2 14 — 63

KAIMUKI — David Taulung 12, Ryan Kakitani 12, Clay Montiho 2, Gabriel Stietzel 3, Desmond Tautofi 19, Raphael Vares 0, Tevin Nishiyama 0, Elijah Morita-Dudoit 0, Mason Kuali'i-Moe 0, Jason Nutter 3, Kelly Tobin 6, Dayton Ortiz 0, John Vave 0, Chad Ka'aihue 0. Totals 16 20-31 57.

KAMEHAMEHA — Micah Christenson 26, Chaz Bajet 6, Pi'i Minns 5, Auwae DeRego 12, Blake Viena 11, Edmund Kamano 3, Shawn Bode 0, Koa Ka'ai 0, Damien Teramae-Kaehuaea 0. Totals 18 23-31 63.

3-point field goals — Kaimuki: 5 (Kakitani 2, Taulung, Stietzel, Nutter). Kamehameha: 4 (Christenson 2, Bajet, DeRego).

CONSOLATION

LAHAINALUNA 47, RADFORD 33

LAHAINALUNA (10-7) 16 7 10 14 — 47

RADFORD (13-6) 6 8 10 9 — 33

LAHAINALUNA — Todd Rickard, Jr. 4, Jake Manning 8, Ty Carter 12, Reimers Pinho 14, Samuel Kiek 7, Mitchell Pascua 0, Gibson Mariano 2, Romel Jake Aguiran 0, Dexter Recites 0, Bryson WIlliams 0, Taylor Aichele 0, Jonathan Rarogal 0, Jayson Manning 0. Totals 18 9-17 47.

RADFORD — Joash Panglinan 0, Jared Victorino 10, Ratu Baravilala 3, Jefferson Fiesta 6, Derrell Lee 3, Tony Reid 5, Robert Wolshlager 0, Aldrin Valdez 1, Quentin Kimura 5, Colvin Taylor 0, Kamu Taulelei 0, Marcus Malepeai 0. Totals 11 6-14 33.

3-point goals: Lahainaluna 2 (Carter, Kiek). Radford 5 (Reid, Kimura, Victorino 2, Barvilala).

KALAHEO 62, BALDWIN 58

BALDWIN (14-1) 6 20 9 23 — 58

KALAHEO (13-7) 10 20 18 14 — 62

BALDWIN — Micah Shibano 10, Lincoln Seto 28, Tim Pang 1, Jordan Villanueva 9, Pasoni Tasini 5, Jayven Tabon 2, John Vergara 0, Jordan Cabajar 2, J.R. Vergel De Dios 0, Tyler Arbogast 0, Tevita Malafu 1. Totals 20 13-20 58.

KALAHEO — Dwayne Mitchell 0, Kevin Leong 0, Richard Preza Haynes 10, Christian Kepa 6, Kona Makaula 0, Shawn Hipa 10, Aaron Fernandez 19, Matt Gasparine-Young 17, Shane Hipa 0, Carlos Craig 0. Totals 23 14-26 62. 3-point goals: Baldwin 5 (Shibano 2, Seto 3). Kalaheo 2 (Fernandez 2).

PUNAHOU 48, WAIAKEA 44

WAIAKEA (11-4) 8 12 10 14 — 44

PUNAHOU (11-7) 10 9 17 12 — 48

WAIAKEA - Rico Asuncion 0, Dakota Allen 6, Mitchel Shintani 10, Charles Tatsuhara 0, Chris Mattos 8, Christian Shintani 0, Colby Iwashita 9, Isaiak Janado 0, Matthew Libao 6, Michael Hughes 5, Clayton Morante 0. Totals 16 8-10 44.

PUNAHOU — Dalton Hilliard 4, Robert Toma 6, Shane Yoshiyama 2, Sean McFadden 2, Henry Cassiday 0, Kimo Makaula 12, Manti Te'o 2, Malik Johnson 2, James Dowsett 2, Matthew Feldman 9, Casey Shibuya 0, Joshua Taylor 0, DeForest Buckner 7. Totals 17 13-26 48. 3-point goals: Waiakea 4 (M. Shintani, Iwashita 3). Punahou 1 (Toma).