Judging by state championships this school year, the gap between the haves and the have-nots is closing in Hawaii prep sports.

Or, perhaps that’s now an archaic way of describing the private schools and the public schools, at least when it comes to athletics.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu, as usual, won the most state championships of any of the five leagues in the state, and private schools won more than public schools — but barely.

Private schools throughout the state won 21 titles to 19 for public schools counting both divisions — but it seemed like the public schools won more, because they took the championships in the sports that had the most eyes on them.

Public schools won the Division I championships in football (Mililani), basketball (Kalaheo boys and Konawaena girls), soccer (Mililani boys and girls), baseball (Campbell) and softball (Campbell).

That is an impressive and unprecedented haul for the public schools in the Prep Bowl and state championship era that started in 1973.

As is usually the case, Punahou of the ILH dominated with the most championships for one school (11, all top division). Conversely, the OIA hardware was spread out, with nine schools taking at least one championship. (Curiously, three public schools with great athletic traditions — Farrington, Kahuku and Waianae — were not among them.)

In the 2013-14 school year, the state’s private schools took nearly three times as many state championships as the public schools — and that was not considered out of the ordinary.

Close observers view this year’s rise of the public school sports teams as a culmination of something that has been brewing.

"If you look at all those teams that won, they finished pretty high last year," OIA executive director Ray Fujino said. "They were right there, just a game away or so. This year they put it all together."

As an example, in 2013 the Mililani football team lost to Punahou in the state championship game. This year the Trojans prevailed over the Buffanblu.

Another interesting aspect is that some teams that won state championships — like Kalaheo basketball and Campbell softball — prevailed despite not winning the OIA championship.

Tough leagues make good teams better.

"The competition was there to push them," Fujino said.

Improved coaching and organization have helped public schools retain some top athletes who used to leave their neighborhood schools for private schools. The ILH still gets plenty of the best players, but more talented youths who grew up playing together are staying together at public schools, resulting in stronger teams.

"I believe the public schools are hiring more qualified coaches for every sport," said Mililani football coach Rod York, an ‘Iolani and University of Hawaii graduate with a master’s degree in education. "Also, there are more qualified coaches applying for the head coaching jobs."

And offseason community leagues are focusing more on development.

"Part of it is luck, and the number of kids at the school. We’ve got 3,000," said recently retired Campbell principal Naomi Takamori. "But a lot of it is attitudinal changes. There’s a culture of winning that has been developing. And the coaches are doing a great job, they’re a new breed. They’re smarter in how they deal with the kids. The public schools are doing better (academically), and that’s helping, too, because the private schools cost so much money."

There used to be a common and nonsensical mind-set that good athletes would only get noticed by colleges if they went to private schools, but that strange way of thinking seems to be changing.

And that idea that the public schools should never play the supposedly superior private schools in sports? Well, the evidence clearly indicates the best of the OIA can compete — and win.

Reach Star-Advertiser sports columnist Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com, his “Quick Reads” blog at staradvertiser.com and twitter.com/davereardon.

2014-15 CHAMPIONSHIPS BY LEAGUE

Total for state public schools: 19
Total for state private schools: 21
Total Division I for public schools: 15
Total Division I for private schools: 15

ILH

Punahou: Air riflery (B), XC (G), Volleyball (G1), Paddling (B), Paddling (G), Paddling (M) Swim (B), Golf (B), Golf (G), Volleyball (B1), Water polo (G1) — 11
Mid-Pac: Air riflery (G), Soccer (B2), Swim (G) — 3
Iolani: Football (2) — 1
Kamehameha: XC (b), Track (b) — 2
Maryknoll: Baseball (2) — 1
HBA: Volleyball (B2) — 1
Total for ILH: 19 (15 D1)

OIA

Pearl City: Bowling (B), Bowling (G)
Radford: Cheer (1)
Mililani: Football (1), Soccer (B1), Soccer (G1)
Kalaheo: Basketball (B1)
Kaiser: Basketball (B2), Track (G)
Campbell: Baseball (1), Softball (1)
Nanakuli: Softball (2)
Roosevelt: Judo (G)
Kapolei: Judo (B)
Total for OIA: 14 (12 D1)

BIIF

Kona: Volleyball (G2), Basketball (G1)
Honokaa: Basketball (G2)
Total for BIIF public: 3

OTHER

Hawaii Prep: Soccer (G2) — 1
Kamehameha-Maui: Cheer (2) — 1
Lahainaluna: Wrestling (B), Wrestling (G) — 2

HAWAII STATE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Title winners in seven sports, last five seasons