Luke Browne soars as freshman for Peninsula Seahawks basketball program

When Luke Browne has the basketball, his primary objective is to get his teammates involved.

But when Peninsula’s leading scorer has to take matters into his own hands, the ninth grader loves to take the ball off the dribble and go to the basket as hard as he can.

“If I get fouled, great,” Browne said. “And if I make it, great also.”

It’s a reason why the freshman — just over a dozen games into his high school career — has averaged 13.8 points per game, which leads the team.

Account for Browne’s 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to snag over four rebounds a game, and that’s enough for Seahawks’ coach Matt Robles to say he may not have the time of day to describe everything the freshman does well for the team.

“He does a ton of things well. … Obviously he shoots the ball at a high level,” Robles said. “He leads the team percentage-wise from three. And with that, he takes really good shots.

“He has a high IQ and shares the ball, but when we need him to make buckets, we call his number and he’s able to knock those shots down.”

Browne was also a contributor for the Seahawks in last week’s win over crosstown rival Gig Harbor, in which Peninsula held the Tides to just 36 points.

It was the lowest offensive point total for Gig Harbor this season, as well as Peninsula’s best defensive outing.

And despite three season-opening losses to non-league opponents, Robles believes the Seahawks are on the rise — just at the right time.

“We defended really well and communicated very well. We shared the ball, and it worked out in our favor for a nice win,” Robles said. “I’m proud of them, because we played hard. We had a rough start to the season and we’ve battled through some adversity. Just to see the boys keep believing … our potential is really high.”

Seven opportunities remain for Peninsula to make noise in the 3A SSC, where the Seahawks remain a game and a half behind Capital for the league lead.

With a defense that can hold an opponent to 36 points, and a ninth-grade rising star shooting the ball efficiently from the perimeter, Browne and his team believe they have a roster constructed to make a run for the league title, and beyond.

“We have everything we need,” Browne said. “It’s just bringing it every night. And if we can do that, I think we’re going to be really tough to beat.”

For Browne, life as a Seahawk starter wasn’t always this easy. But it was his teammates that helped the freshman acclimate to varsity basketball rather quickly. When he followed their lead and example — that’s when it became easy.

It was also his personal approach to not only the basketball court, but the environment of high school, Robles says, that catapulted Browne to instant success in the Peninsula program.

“He’s a humble, down-to-earth young man,” Robles said. “He’s so skilled on the basketball court, but he’s great in the classroom, great on campus, and he’s great in the locker room. When you bring in a freshman like that, those guys fit in seamlessly.”

And though Browne’s high school career may have started just months ago, he’s been putting up shots since he was little.

It seems to have paid off.

“When I was little, I’d always try shooting,” Browne said. “That’s why I think it’s easiest for me to score, and that just sets up everything else. If you can shoot, the defense has to respect you, and that opens up so many different ways to score.”

This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 6:00 AM.