Lee Academy Prep Basketball

03/17/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: PANDAS IN THE BIG DANCE 🐼

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Yacine Toumi and Hawaii Qualify for NCAA Tournament After Big West Championship

HONOLULU, HI — The "Panda Pride" is going global and national once again. The Panda Press News is proud to announce that Lee Academy alumnus Yacine Toumi (Tunisia) and the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors have officially qualified for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Rainbow Warriors punched their ticket to "March Madness" by capturing the Big West Conference Championship in thrilling fashion in Las Vegas this past weekend.

Impact on the Floor
Toumi, a versatile forward who has been a consistent presence for Hawaii all season, averages 5 points and 3 rebounds per game. In the high-stakes Big West Championship game, Yacine provided crucial minutes, contributing 2 points and 3 rebounds to help secure the title and the automatic bid to the tournament.

The Matchup: #13 Hawaii vs. #4 Arkansas

The NCAA Tournament bracket has been set, and Yacine’s squad is headed to Portland, Oregon. As the No. 13 seed in the West Bracket, Hawaii will face the No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks, the champions of the SEC.

• When: Thursday, March 19
• Time: 1:25 PM PT / 4:25 PM ET
• Location: Moda Center | Portland, OR
• Watch: Live on TBS

Historic Achievement
This marks Hawaii’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2016. For Yacine, this is the culmination of years of hard work that began in Tunisia and was refined during his time at Lee Academy.
"Watching Yacine compete for a national championship is a proud moment for our school," the Panda Press News noted. "He represents the international reach of Lee Academy and shows our current players that the path to the highest level of college basketball is
possible through hard work and dedication."

The Lee Academy community is encouraged to wear their Panda gear and tune in to TBS this Thursday to support Yacine as he looks to lead Hawaii to an opening-round upset!

03/15/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: PANDAS IN THE BIG DANCE 🐼

ALUMNI ADVANCE: Akili Evans and Anthony Troncilitto Secure NCAA Tournament Wins; Play for Sweet 16 Berths Today

MARCH 15, 2026 — The "Panda Pride" is being felt on the national stage this weekend as two Lee Academy alumni helped their respective programs secure opening-round victories in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament. Both Akili Evans and Anthony Troncilitto are moving on to the Round of 32 with games scheduled for later today.

🛡️ THE VETERAN: Akili Evans (Class of 2021)
Lenoir-Rhyne University (SAC)
Senior guard Akili Evans continues his stellar final campaign, helping lead Lenoir-Rhyne to an 80-67 victory over North Georgia in the Southeast Regional Quarterfinals. Evans was a major catalyst in the win, finishing as one of five Bears in double figures with 14 points.

His early second-half three-pointer gave Lenoir-Rhyne its first double-digit lead of the night, a margin they would never relinquish. With the win, Evans and the Bears move to 25-8 on the season and have advanced to the second round for the second consecutive year.

Next Game: Today vs. Young Harris | 7:30 PM

🚀 THE FRESHMAN: Anthony Troncilitto (Class of 2025)
Felician University (CACC)
Just one year removed from his time in a Panda jersey, freshman guard Anthony Troncilitto is already experiencing the madness of March. Troncilitto saw action in Felician’s dominant 75-53 victory over Adelphi, contributing 2 points in a historic win for the program.

The victory marks the first NCAA Regional win in Felician program history. The Golden Falcons, currently ranked #21 in the nation, improve to an incredible 26-3 record as they continue their "immaculate" season.

Next Game: Today 5:00PM vs Saint Anselm College

📺 HOW TO FOLLOW
The Lee Academy community is encouraged to tune in and support our alumni as they battle for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Felecian 5:00pm

https://caccnetwork.com/felicianathletics/?B=3808363

Lenoir Rhyne 7:30pm

https://www.ncaa.com/game/6538196

"Seeing our guys succeed at the highest level of college basketball is what this program is all about," the Panda Press News noted. "Whether they are seniors or freshmen, once a Panda, always a Panda. We are all rooting for them today."

03/15/2026

Tune into ESPN2 tonight at 10:00pm to watch Yacine Toumi and Hawaii for a chance at the big dance!

03/14/2026

Catch Akili Evans and Lenoir Rhyne in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament tonight!

Live scores from the North Ga. and Lenoir-Rhyne DII Men's Basketball game, including box scores, individual and team statistics and play-by-play.

03/08/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: POSTSEASON UPDATE 🐼

PANDAS PUNCH TICKET TO FINALS! Regional Squad Downs Busche Academy 65-59; Championship Set for 11:00 AM

AUBURN, ME – March 8, 2026 – The Lee Academy Regional Team has advanced to the Championship game after a hard-fought 65-59 victory over Busche Academy at Central Maine Community College. The win marks the fourth victory in the last five games for the surging Pandas, who are now just one win away from postseason hardware.

Balanced Scoring Attack
The Pandas' offense was firing from the jump, led by a standout performance from Parker Hognas, who finished with a team-high 19 points. Ethan Clave remained a constant threat with 13 points, while Cillian O’Connell provided a double-digit spark with 12 points of his own.

Second Half Surges & Interior Control
The difference-maker in the closing half was the interior play and bench depth. Fillip Gawlowski was a force in the paint, finishing with 8 points and dominating the glass to limit Busche Academy to one-and-done possessions. Meanwhile, Gio Ali provided the ultimate spark when it mattered most, scoring all 8 of his points in a massive second-half performance that helped the Pandas pull away.

The Main Event: Championship Rematch
The Pandas now move on to the Tournament Championship for a highly anticipated rematch against Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC). The two teams met earlier this season on the road, where the Pandas fell in a heartbreaker. Today, Lee Academy has the opportunity to settle the score with a title on the line.

Championship Details:
• Matchup: Lee Academy vs. Kennebec Valley CC
• Time: 11:00 AM (Today)
• Location: Central Maine CC (Auburn, ME)
Come out to CMCC and show your Panda Pride as the Regional team battles for the championship!

Link:

https://youtube.com/?si=uWkKm4eP5EvXq5rO

CMCC Athletics YouTube Go Mustangs!

03/08/2026

Pandas win!

Lee Academy Regional defeated Busche Academy 66-59 tonight. They advance and play Kennebec Valley CC at 11:00 AM in the Championship Game at Central Maine CC.

03/07/2026

Congratulations and good luck Yacine!

03/07/2026

Link for tonight’s stream!

8:00 pm

http://youtube.com//streams

03/07/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: POSTSEASON UPDATE 🐼

REGIONAL SQUAD HEADS TO CMCC FOR POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT; PANDAS SEEK CHAMPIONSHIP BERTH

AUBURN, ME – March 7, 2026 – The Lee Academy Regional Team officially begins its postseason journey today as they travel to Central Maine Community College (CMCC) for a high-stakes tournament weekend. The Pandas enter the bracket as one of the hottest teams in the region, looking to secure a spot in tomorrow’s championship game.

Momentum on Their Side
The Pandas arrive in Auburn playing their best basketball of the season. After a signature victory over Putnam Science Academy last weekend, Lee Academy has now won three of its last four contests. A win tonight would mark their fourth victory in five games and further cement their status as a postseason threat.

Tournament Schedule & Matchups
The action at CMCC kicks off tonight with a double-header:
• Game 1: Central Maine vs. Kennebec Valley CC (6:00 PM)
• Game 2: Lee Academy Regional vs. Busche Academy (8:00 PM)
The stakes are simple: win and advance. The winners of tonight’s matchups will square off tomorrow in the tournament championship.

Coach’s Corner
Head Coach Stef Bryant is confident in his group’s preparation following a brief hiatus from game action.

"We are feeling good. We’ve had some time off, but we are ready to go!"

The Panda Press News will be following the action closely. Fans are encouraged to make the trip to Auburn to support the Regional squad as they hunt for postseason hardware.

03/06/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 🐼

AKILI EVANS NAMED SAC NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR; EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

ROCK HILL, SC – The Panda Press News is thrilled to announce that Lee Academy alumnus Akili Evans has been named the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Newcomer of the Year. In his debut season with Lenoir-Rhyne University, Evans has established himself as one of the most dynamic and consistent forces in NCAA Division II basketball.

A Season of Excellence
In addition to being named the top newcomer in the conference, Evans was also selected to the All-SAC Second Team. His impact on the #2-seeded Bears has been undeniable, averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting an efficient 53% from the field.

Evans proved to be a model of consistency throughout the 30-game regular season, scoring in double figures in all but four contests. His season was highlighted by a career-high 27-point explosion in a crucial road win against Lincoln Memorial.

Making National Headlines
Panda fans who followed Akili during his time in Lee won't be surprised to hear he is still playing above the rim. Earlier this season, Evans garnered national attention when one of his thunderous dunks against UNC Pembroke earned a spot on SportsCenter’s Top Ten Plays.

Tournament Bound
Behind Evans’ leadership, Lenoir-Rhyne finished the regular season with an impressive 23-7 record. The Bears won their first SAC Tournament game over Emory and Henry. Akili finished with 19 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists. They are the #2 seed and will play Catawba at 7:30pm Friday in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The entire Lee Academy community congratulates Akili on these well-deserved honors. He continues to represent the Panda jersey with elite play and professionalism at the next level.

03/05/2026

Congratulations Cam!

Cam Miller Named to AMC All-Tournament Team

03/05/2026

🐼 PANDA PRESS NEWS: SEASON FINALE 🐼
PANDAS FALL TO #2 PUTNAM SCIENCE; REFLECT ON HISTORIC SEASON

PUTNAM, CT – The Lee Academy National Team saw its historic postseason run come to an end this week, falling to nationally ranked #2 Putnam Science Academy in the Big Six Conference Semi-Finals. While the result wasn't the "banner finish" the team worked for, the 2025-26 campaign stands as one of the most successful and impactful seasons in recent program history.

A Season of Milestones
This year’s squad leaves behind a legacy of achievement. For the first time in three seasons, the Pandas dominated their home court, finishing with a perfect 6-0 record at Mallet Gymnasium, a victory over our instate rival. Additionally, the team etched its name in the record books by winning the first-ever postseason game in the inaugural season of the Big Six Conference.

Tested by the Best
The Pandas' record was earned against one of the most grueling schedules in the country. Competing against elite competition—including five programs that qualified for the National Prep Tournament—Lee Academy proved they could go toe-to-toe with the nation's best.

The Next Chapter: College Bound
For these players, the work on the court in Lee was just the beginning. The focus now shifts to the next level: college. With the season concluded, the staff and players are turning their full attention toward final recruitment and securing their next destinations at the collegiate level.

A Message of Gratitude
The entire program would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Panda Nation. Whether in person or online, the team truly felt the impact of your unwavering support.
Congratulations goes out to the players, Coach Dan Haynes, and Coach Joe Batyko for their leadership and dedication throughout this high-level season.

🔥 COMING SOON: REGIONAL TOURNAMENT TEASER
The Panda Press News isn't done yet! While the National season concludes, the Lee Academy Regional Team is just getting started.
Stay tuned later today for a special preview of the Regional Post-Season Tournament happening this weekend. The Pandas are looking for more hardware!

Photo credit: Sean’s Dad