Peninsula seniors Kaleb Lichau, Roman Bockhorn lead Seahawks’ season turnaround 

Peninsula’s basketball team has seven seniors, one freshman leading the team in scoring, and zero toxic egos.

The Seahawks don’t care about a high scorer. When the team prioritizes winning, it’s a trait that pays off for a red-hot Peninsula team.

But Kaleb Lichau and Roman Bockhorn — two seniors on the Peninsula squad — have the ability to score the ball with ease. So when the two varsity starters share the ball and play selflessly, it’s a reason why Coach Matt Robles believes the two lead by example.

“To have two guys that have been four-year varsity (players), that easily could have said ‘Hey, I’m going to get 20-plus a game’ and put that aside… all they care about is winning,” said coach Matt Robles. “They don’t care who scores. They want to make sure we just win.”

Both Lichau and Bockhorn believe they’re better teammates now compared to their three preceding years of high school ball. As seniors, they’ve established a goal of team inclusivity, which has translated to effective ball movement and offensive efficiency.

The offseason infusion of freshman star Luke Browne — now the team’s leading scorer — is what Bockhorn says takes the weight off his shoulders when the ball is in his hands.

“I feel like I’ve been sharing the ball a lot more this year than I have in past years,” Bockhorn said. “I feel a lot more unselfish. As a team, we feel more confident moving the ball around. Having a guy like Luke Browne on the court, and having a guy like Kaleb… I don’t feel like I need to shoot it every possession.”

For Lichau, it’s much of the same.

The 6-foot-9 forward says he has been able to embrace a growing role as leader. He’s also to credit, according to Robles, for the rapid development of the freshman Browne.

It was during the team’s summer league last year when Lichau realized the potential of the incoming ninth grader.

“He knows how to play basketball and that’s been a big surprise for us, because we really weren’t expecting it,” Lichau said. “Going into this year, he came into summer ball, and we’re like, ‘alright, this kid’s a stud.’

“We just help him on the little stuff. He’s an amazing scorer and has a really high IQ.”

Despite a turbulent start for the Seahawks, Robles’ squad captured wins in three of their last four, including two victories by double digits.

Lichau says a mid-season Christmas tournament helped the team strengthen their ability to play zone defense, and it shows.

Before that tournament, the Seahawks had allowed 84 points to North Kitsap and 72 to Union.

And since, Peninsula defeated their crosstown rival Gig Harbor in a dominant defensive performance, handling the Tides 59-36.

In the following contest, the Seahawks held North Thurston to 37.

“I think it’s credit to our players and our two senior leaders,” Robles said. “They’ve had a lot of resiliency. They just worry about getting better every single day. No matter how slow of a start we had during the season, they truly believed and they led by example. To have these two as leaders has been a great asset for us.”

While Lichau and Bockman — and the other five Seahawk seniors — have just five regular season games remaining in their high school careers, Robles wants his leaders to take a step back and remember the experience.

“I just want them to enjoy this,” Robles said. “They have been together four years and I just want to help them accomplish all of the goals they set out to achieve. Whatever they want. I would do anything for these two guys and wouldn’t even blink an eye.”

This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 6:00 AM.