GLASGOW – The Barren County girls’ basketball team will play in the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2007 when the Trojanettes face Region 15 champion Pikeville at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

And while players and coaches are excited about getting back to the Sweet Sixteen, they aren’t satisfied with just a cameo appearance.

“We talk a little bit how there are two teams that go (to the Sweet Sixteen) – teams that go to look at the lights and teams that go to win,” Barren County coach Piper Lindsey said. “We want to go and continue getting better and to play to the best of our ability. We feel like we are playing our best basketball right now. If we can keep doing that, then you never know what can happen.”

Barren County’s opponent has also been playing its best ball of late. Since starting the season 3-5, the Lady Panthers are 24-2 – including winning by at least 12 points in all five postseason wins.

Junior Kirsten Cole-Williamson leads Pikeville in scoring (12.4 points) and rebounding (7.6 rpg), while senior Grace Bartley averages 10.6 points a night.

Lindsey said Pikeville is definitely playing well and that it is a good matchup between teams that are very similar.

“They are almost the spitting image of what we are – with a couple of lefties and a few good guards and some bigs inside,” Lindsey said. “They like to get up and down and run in transition, so I really do like the matchup that we will face on Thursday.”

Barren County’s transition offense was key in its run through the Region 4 Tournament, but Lindsey said it will be transition defense and rebounding that will be the keys to victory against Pikeville.

Senior guard Mallory Pedigo said she’s excited for the challenge, adding that it’s been fun to celebrate the region title but now it is time to get back to work.

“We know this is a great accomplishment,” Pedigo said. “Everybody at school is so happy for us and the community has come together. This is a great feeling, but we also want to get farther.”

Senior guard Bailey Pedigo agrees the Trojanettes are excited about the chance to continue the season.

“We keep saying stay hungry and don’t be satisfied,” Bailey Pedigo said. “We are going there to take care of business. We are just going to take it one game at a time.”