Chad Kapanui hasn't played much besides special teams so far. But he'd be in the Hawaii football record book if there were a category for most position changes. Kapanui looks
Buffanblu, Warriors in ILH showdown
strong at safetyBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe sophomore from Roosevelt High School was recruited as a quarterback.
Then it went like this, all in less than two years: linebacker to quarterback to running back to safety.
So what does Kapanui work on after practice?
Long snapping, of course.
"Ah, I'm just the backup," he said. "T.J. Moe's doing a really good job there, so I don't think they'll need me. But just in case."
Kapanui said he thinks he's found a home at strong safety. At 6-feet, 213 pounds, he can lay a lick, and is working to improve his quickness.
"I want to just stay there, but wherever coach puts me that's fine. I just want to play," he said. "But I like to joke with the offense guys. I tell them I play defense because the old saying, defense wins championships. Offense just wins games."
Another safety: Sean Butts is another player vying for a starting spot at safety. As a junior last year, he starred on special teams, blocking four kicks and expertly covering punts from the gunner position.
Now, the former wide receiver is working on improving his tackling technique.
"I'm concentrating on my footwork, and we're all working on our hands to get more picks," he said. "Footwork is my main concern. Feet and hands.
"I'm working on my hitting, also. I'm learning to stay low to the ground."
Leonard Peters, David Gilmore, Keith Bhonapha and Matt Manuma also remain in the mix to replace departed senior safeties Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau.
Feeling a draft: Manly Kanoa, who started at left guard the past three years, visited practice yesterday. After working out for scouts last month in Santa Monica, Calif., he is looking forward to the April 20-21 NFL Draft.
"Some teams are showing interest," he said. "My agent said to keep ready and be ready to go. It doesn't matter to me if it's free agent or the draft. I just want to get there and prove I can play."
Jones on Pisa: Senior linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is picking up right where he left off at the end of last season. Coach June Jones has noticed.
"He's worked harder than he ever has. He's a leader, he's got the charisma. He's one of those special guys. If he steps up and has the kind of year he should, he'll make a lot of plays."
Short yardage: Sophomore defensive back Saffery Silva left practice yesterday with a neck sprain. He is expected back before the end of spring practice next week. ... J.C. transfer running back John West continued to break off some impressive runs. ... Sunday, April 14 marks the final day of spring practice. The format will be similar to last year, which included a scrimmage and carnival-like activities. The Cooke Field gates will open at 4 p.m. and the scrimmage begins at 5:30.
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Punahou hosts Kamehameha in the first big showdown of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball season tomorrow night. Buffanblu, Warriors
in big ILH showdownBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comTip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Both teams enter the contest at 5-0 and tied for first place in the league. They played twice in the preseason with Punahou winning both battles.
The Buffanblu pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors in the championship game of the Punahou Wahine Classic. Punahou then won an overtime rematch in the final of the Kamehameha Imua Challenge.
"We got lucky when we faced them in preseason," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "It went down to the wire and we were fortunate to pull it out."
Punahou boasts the ILH's top offense, averaging 56 points per game, and will face the league's best defense. Kamehameha has held opponents to fewer than 32 points per contest.
Punahou is led by forward Becky Hogue and guard Rachel Kane, who are averaging 14 points per game each. Kane leads the league in 3-point shooting with 11 goals behind the arc.
Megan Ching, a junior forward, leads a balanced Kamehameha attack with 11 points per game.
"Megan is a terrific basketball player who plays with so much intensity and desire," Taylor said. "We're going to have to be disciplined on defense to try to contain her."
Net gains: The Oahu Interscholastic Association tennis playoffs begin today with semifinal matches.
In the boys bracket, Mililani hosts Kahuku, and Pearl City travels to Kaiser. Both matches start at 2 p.m.
Eight-time defending girls champion Mililani plays at Moanalua at 1 p.m., and Roosevelt travels to Pearl City at 2.
The winners advance to the team championships set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the BYU-Hawaii tennis courts in Laie.
Kaiser won the OIA East boys championship with 43 points with Kahuku second at 36. Mililani won the OIA West crown with 42 points.
Pearl City finished second with 36.
Moanalua edged Roosevelt for the OIA East girls title with 41 points. Pearl City finished one point ahead of Mililani in the OIA West standings.
The OIA individual championships begin April 20 with quarterfinal matches at the University of Hawaii. The finals are April 22.
The ILH regular season closes on April 16. The league's postseason tournament runs April 20-25.
On track: The OIA track season heats up this weekend with the OIA Relays at Mililani's stadium.
The trials start at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The finals are set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
The relays lead into the OIA Eastern and Western Division championships next week at Kaiser and Mililani.
Scouts honor: About 20 professional scouts gathered at Castle High School last Wednesday to watch Kailua pitcher Kamaile Santos make his regular-season debut.
The senior right-hander, who earned Star-Bulletin All-State honors last year, struck out 11 batters to lead the Surfriders to a 3-2 win over the Knights.
A dozen of those scouts flew over to Molokai the next day to take a look at Farmers pitcher Keahi Rawlins.
Santos and Rawlins have signed letters of intent with the University of Hawaii.
Kailua hosts Moanalua in a battle of 2-0 teams today at 4 p.m.