Fourteen.

That’s the number of northeast Indiana high school basketball teams bringing home a state championship title since the Indiana High School Athletic Association adopted its class basketball tournament in 1998. Add in the number of schools with championship game appearances, and the roster of northeast Indiana players reaches the hundreds.

Try to take that away from the players – as Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, attempted – and you’re likely to hear protests.

That’s why it’s good that Delph agreed to withdraw temporarily Senate Bill 236’s provision mandating a single-class tournament and even better that the IHSAA will give student-athletes a voice in determining whether they should return to the single-winner contest.

“I learned the state of Indiana because of basketball,” the state senator said. “When we had a one-class basketball tournament, it was a time that brought our state together.”

Viewed through the nostalgic lens of Hollywood, that might be the case. But over 15 years of class basketball, hundreds of small communities have had the chance to rally behind a boys or girls basketball team advancing further in the bracket than a single-class contest ever allowed. Milan beat Muncie Central once – 58 years ago – to fuel Delph’s romantic idyll.

IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox rightly frames the issue from the student perspective, noting proponents of a single-class tournament invariably hail the loss of a “cultural icon.”

“I’ve not heard one individual talk about the students – it’s always about the adults,” he said. “We’re forgetting about the kids. We do this for the student-athlete; we do this for kids to play games.”

Cox points to the overwhelming support for class basketball from his organization’s membership, including a 220-157 vote endorsement by high school principals for the IHSAA board’s 1996 decision. In 2006, when the legislature sought a non-binding resolution for a voluntary state championship, the support from principals for class basketball was even greater.

The commissioner also notes that the push to change the tournament format comes from outside – not from the membership of the voluntary, private sports organization.

But to comply with Delph’s request for statewide input, the IHSAA will host a series of town meetings – the first set for April in Fort Wayne. Cox said ballots will be distributed at the end of each session to allow attendees to express their tournament preference. He acknowledged that the meetings are likely to draw Hoosiers who share Delph’s views, but said he believes they also will draw students and parents who support the current system. An electronic survey of the state’s high school basketball coaches also will be conducted.

Cox also said he’ll tap the IHSAA’s 18-member student-athlete advisory council – high school juniors and seniors from across the state. He said he would like to set more student sessions across the state, but said he recognizes that the young people most affected are busy with school and sports. All of the data will be turned over to Delph.

It’s a good opportunity to demonstrate to high school students that their voices can make a difference and a good reminder for lawmakers that the voices of those they represent should be considered.