Cheatham County returns to girls basketball state tournament for first time since 2004.

Jim Gibbs remembers the last time Cheatham County played in the TSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.

The current Lady Cubs coach had a front row seat for the program's state tournament run in 2004 — as a radio play-by-play announcer.

Gibbs, though, will have a seat from the other side of the court this week.

"I covered them all year," Gibbs said of the 2004 team that lost to Oliver Springs in the Class AA state quarterfinals. "They were a very talented crew.

"That team had more height (than this year). This team may have a little more quickness. Both of them played hard and defense propelled a lot of the offense."

But this isn't about a trip through memory lane. This is about the present and the Lady Cubs are focused on this week.

"They are trying to set their own history," Gibbs said. "That's what our school is trying to do."

Cheatham County (28-1) plays Macon County (28-6) at 2:45 p.m. Thursday in a Class AA state quarterfinal at MTSU's Murphy Center in Murfreesboro.

Cost is $10 for admission and $5 to park.

The Lady Cubs enter as the District 9-AA and Region 5-AA champions. They defeated Marshall County 57-39 in a Class AA sectional to clinch a state tournament berth.

The duo of point guard Emmy Nelson, the District 9-AA MVP, and Abbi Douglas headline the talented lineup, which has won 23 straight games since a 42-37 loss to Summertown on Nov. 30. Summertown is also playing this week in the Class A tournament.

Cheatham County's roster includes just one senior — Rachel Allen. It also includes three sets of sisters — Emmy and Eryn Nelson, Abbi Douglas and Alli Douglas and Jesse Bumpus and Jorden Bumpus.

"Sometimes it can be a challenge," Gibbs said of coaching three sets of sisters. "But a lot of them have played together for so long. They are friends first."