The following is an online sports exclusive from Renda Media.
The future is bright for the Indiana boys’ basketball program following a year that saw the team’s first WPIAL playoff appearance since the 2017-18 season.
Coach Andy Lansberry wanted to reshape the culture of the program in his first year with the Indians after coming over from Penns Manor in the Heritage Conference the year before, and he saw that, especially during the final stretch of the year.
Indiana boasted a four-game winning streak at the end of the schedule, downing Armstrong, Shaler, Plum and Greensburg-Salem to clinch the 17th seed in the WPIAL 5A playoffs. Ultimately, the Indians fell to Franklin Regional on the road in the Pigtail Round.
Despite the loss, Lansberry said his talented core of underclassmen knows what it takes to get to the playoffs and they are focused on going even farther in the 2025-26 season.
Part of that core includes a handful of sophomore starters, including Aaron and Darius Webb, Dom Kowchuck, Will Olsen, and freshman Tai Allison.
Lansberry said the committed group is already chomping at the bit to prepare for next season.
The coach also commented on the switch from coaching in the Heritage Conference to the WPIAL. One of the big things he picked up on was the conference’s high-powered feel. But he said that will only help the young tribe.
Lansberry, who was hired late in the offseason last year, is excited to have a full off-season with his team, and he said weight lifting programs and shooting drills will be the epicenter of offseason workouts, which start soon.
He adds the team will get a better look of what’s to come when the Indiana Optimist Tournament makes its annual appearance in March.
