The Louisiana High School Athletic Association died June 8, 2016, in Baton Rouge after a long illness. It was 96 years old.

Sadly, a lot of folks were saying things to that effect this week after the LHSAA, the organization of  high school principals which regulates high school sports in the state, voted overwhelmingly to move forward with its plan to have separate competitions for public and private schools in all major sports beginning next year.

With a split already in place for football for the past three seasons, the school leaders voted to divide the competition in basketball, baseball and softball back in January.

Since then, LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine, an assortment of high school principals and even some state legislators have tried to forge a peace between the two sides. Compromises were offered Wednesday, but a whopping 56.5 percent of the principals voted, literally, for “none of the above.”

Some cheered the decision; others stormed out of the meeting in anger. More than a few were disgusted by the process. As emotions rose, the already large rift between the public and private schools grew to perhaps irreparable proportions.

“It’s done. You can stick a fork in it,” said Riverside Academy athletic director and head basketball coach Timmy Byrd. “There’s no going back now.”

What this means is, the LHSAA will once again crown nine state champions, five non-select (public schools) and four select (private schools), in football. With seven non-select classes and five select divisions added in basketball, baseball and softball, the LHSAA will have to host 12 championship games in those sports beginning next spring.

The result likely will mean the end of the one-site/one-weekend state tournaments such as the annual Fast Pitch 56 State Softball Tournament in Sulphur, which so many St. John the Baptist Parish fans have come to know and love.

It also likely will be the end of the baseball State Tournament which hosted this year’s fantastic Class 2A semifinal showdown between Riverside and St. Charles Catholic, unless the town of Sulphur can find a way to host as many as 90 teams, put on 24 semifinal games and 12 title games in one weekend. They’ve already said they can’t.

It probably means there will be a bunch of mismatched playoff games in all sports as more teams will qualify.

“At least more kids will get a chance to play for a state championship,” said East St. John coach Aldon Foster.

It certainly means the LHSAA will be spending a lot more on trophies.

“What they don’t understand is, it’s not about trophies for these kids,” said Byrd, who has won plenty. “They would much rather compete and win and have it mean something than win something hollow. You can’t fool kids.”

Some predict the disgruntled private schools now will bolt en mass. There have been talks and negotiations to form a new league separate from the LHSAA for years. The buzz only got louder after the January vote.

“It will happen eventually,” Byrd said.

St. Charles Catholic coach Frank Monica also believes it will happen, just not soon enough.

“If my administration would give me the green light, I’d leave tonight,” Monica said. “It just can’t come soon enough for me. Why would we want to stay in an organization that doesn’t want us and allow them to dictate to us how we have our playoffs? That just doesn’t make sense. We don’t have a voice at all.”

While reports of the death of the nearly 100-year-old LHSAA may be somewhat premature, it certainly is on a watch and not likely to recover.

“It’s a sad day in Louisiana High School athletics,” Riverside Academy football coach Bill Stubbs said.

May everyone rest in peace.

Lori Lyons is sports editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. She can be reached at 985-652-9545 or lori.lyons@lobservateur.com.