This is not true at all. McCracken in region 1 plays teams from all over the state every year. Paducah Tilghman does also. McCracken has won that region every year since the school opened. Greenup County in region 16 plays several teams from Lex, Lou, and NKY every year. The good teams from the rural regions understand that playing teams outside of your own little bubble help prepare you for post season. Those that don't play any teams from outside their area are likely teams that won't be making it to the state tournament. You can look at other rural regions as well. The teams that typically represent those regions at the state tournament have played at least a handful of teams from the more populated areas.