New Leadership Shapes Local Basketball Landscape
The 2026‑27 boys basketball season in Indiana is shaping up to be a story of familiar faces taking the reins at two storied programs. Lakeland in LaGrange and Zionsville are set to begin campaigns under new head coaches, each chosen for their track records of success.
Delmar Bontrager, a Lakeland alumnus who previously led Prairie Heights to 53 victories over five seasons, returns to his alma mater after a stint as an assistant. His deep roots in the community and recent experience as a developmental coach position him to continue the Lakers’ recent streak of winning campaigns.
Ryan Yoder, Lakeland’s athletic director, praised Bontrager’s leadership, noting his passion for elevating the program and his familiarity with the school’s culture.
Bontrager Returns to Lakeland
Bontrager’s return marks a homecoming of sorts, as he once played for the Lakers and now brings a wealth of coaching experience. The team finished 16‑8 overall and 8‑3 in the Northeast Corner Conference last season, extending a run of four consecutive winning campaigns.
Weaver Takes the Reins at Zionsville
Andy Weaver arrives in Zionsville after a 14‑year tenure at Plainfield High, where he compiled 422 career wins and earned three IBCA District 2 Coach of the Year awards. Under his guidance, the Quakers posted a 22‑3 record in the most recent season.
Weaver will now steer a Zionsville squad that returns leading scorers Camden Moore and Rylon Gore, along with key contributors Preston Johnson, Nick Snively and Zack Green, giving the team a solid core for the upcoming schedule.
Both appointments blend continuity with fresh energy, as each coach draws on personal connections — Bontrager’s family legacy at Lakeland and Weaver’s extensive coaching portfolio — to drive the programs forward and keep the region’s basketball tradition thriving.