[Leaping Lee]

Could be. Rowan County certainly overachieved two years ago and almost won the tournament. Cinderella teams do that from time to time and that makes the tournament interesting. Last year, they lost after an easy first round win which was about as expected by unbiased observers.

In modern history the 16th Region has not been seen as a strong region. Every now and then (Rose Hill in 2003, Elliott County a couple of times, and Rowan County in 2011), it sends a good team. However, the region usually loses early.

If there is a good team in the region, it should schedule accordingly. Ashland did play two 9th Region schools last week but both are weak this year. They would have been far better served to have scheduled CovCath and NCC or a Cincinnati school. Fleming County did go to Paducah to play Tilghman but Tilghman is weak. Both Ashland and Russell beat one of the weaker Clark County teams in the last 50 years. Those wins may look good to some but they are of little consequence.

Outside of the 6th, 7th, and the Lexington region the 16th has had about as much success as any other region at the state tournament. Ashland in 1996, Elliott 4 years ago and Rowan two years ago all reached Saturday. Not to shabby for a traditionally week region.

As for scheduling, I'm 100% in agreement about playing a tough schedule. You mention Clark Co. and it's a fact that this is a rebuiling year for them but if I'm not mistaken Ashland plays them every year. I don't think they scheduled them knowing they would be down this year.

If you look at Ashland and Flemings schedule for the rest of the year I don't think anyone would consider them soft. Fleming plays Johnson Central, Mason Co., Harlan, Henry Clay, Lafayette and potentially Montgomery Co.
Ashland's remaining schedule includes, Johnson Central, Mason, Ironton, Tug Vally WV, Clay Co, and potentially Henderson Co, NCC, West Jessamine depending on how the AIT unfolds.