The boys’ and girls’ state basketball championship games recently ended, and the debate was back on the burner again.

Will we ever see separate public and private school PIAA championships?

For many, it is about leveling the playing field. This past season, private schools won four of the six boys’ championships, and three of the six girls’ crowns.

Through the years, this debate has caused plenty of division among both factions, both inside and outside.

In response to the latest rounds of titles, Old Forge Superintendent Christopher Gatto fired off a letter to the PIAA in response to Sewickley Academy’s 52-35 victory over them in the Class 2A championship.

Gatto stated that his students are from a 3 to 4 mile radius from the school, while Sewickley had 6-foot-6 and a 6-foot-7 forwards, one from Senegal and another from Congo. Those are approximately a 4,000-mile ride from Sewickley.

Old Forge students made national news by holding signs stating “Old Forge Blue Devils Public School Champions.”

That should prove to be a major step forward instead of the usual rants and arguments.

Jim Thorpe Area Superintendent Robert Presley also voiced his displeasure and prepared a letter about the disparity during a recent school board meeting.

It’s back on again. This time around, though, the public schools appear to have a full tank for a long ride.

Having worked in Catholic education, coaching and publicity — the Allentown Diocese newspaper — for more than 30 combined years, I know both sides of the aisle.

If private school education has all of their processes on the level, they can provide a worthwhile outlet for any student on and off the courts.

Unfortunately for public schools, a private school can have a 6-6 center from another country or a ball-hawking scoring guard that lives 20 miles away.

Yet, if the recruiting is legitimate, you can’t become infuriated with them. However, the fight for postseason legitimacy will rage.

As a result, it’s time for the PIAA to institute separate championships. Even though some schools change their classification based on enrollment before their seasons, there should be plenty of teams to keep everything balanced.

According to recently posted information, there are 741 public high schools, 92 Catholic high schools and 529 overall private high schools in the state. Currently, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Texas and Virginia are the only states that offer separate state athletic playoffs and championships.

Pennsylvania House Bill 41, introduced by Rep. Scott Conklin, would allow the PIAA to establish separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools. The bill aims to address competitive imbalances, citing public school disadvantages, and passed the committee with bipartisan support, advancing to the full House.

This bill is a direct response to concerns that the current PIAA structure, which has allowed private schools to compete in public school playoffs since 1972, no longer provides a level playing field.

“The current system isn’t just putting public school athletes at a disadvantage, it’s endangering their health and safety,” Conklin, D-Centre, said. “K-12 sports are supposed to be about building confidence and reinforcing concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship. We can’t be doing that with a system that puts some students on an unlevel playing field before they even walk out onto the field.”

Conklin emphasized that his bill — which now heads to the full House for consideration — would not be a mandate but would simply clear the way for PIAA officials to implement needed change.

“PIAA officials’ hands have been tied because of a decades-old requirement that prohibits them from updating the playoff system. My bill would clear the way and allow the PIAA to level the playing field once and for all for students.”

Yes, it still will come down to the PIAA to make the final decision, but it is likely to comply due to rising pressures.

If it all comes to fruition, private school powerhouses will stay on their courses and import their share of recruits to work their way toward another trophy. Small schools, like Marian Catholic High School, likely would have a better shot in their new divisions, but their only drawback may be extensive travel.

A solution won’t bring an immediate clean slate to both sides, as scheduling issues will probably push back the new alignment to 2028.

However, it should cool a sizzling topic that caused several fractures on both sides for many years.

JEFF MOELLER | TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM