When you look at the numbers you can’t help but notice how close they are.

From a purely statistical standpoint Thursday night’s Class D semifinal between Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy and Adrian Lenawee Christian pits two teams with nearly identical numbers against one another.

For the season the top-ranked Irish are 25-0, which ties the single-season school record for wins with the 2007-08 team and last year’s squad. The third-ranked Cougars come in at 24-1 after bouncing Athens 62-31 Tuesday.

For the season the Irish average 56 points per game after posting 1,392 points through 25 games.

The Cougars have posted 1,399 points this season and also average 56 points per game.

Thus. when SHA and Adrian Lenawee Christian meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday from Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena a close game should be expected right?

“We’re mirrors of one another,” said SHA head coach Damon Brown of the similarities he sees between the two teams. “I think it’s going to come down to who’s defense steps up to the test? Points will come at a premium in this game,”

If the Irish have one fact working in their favor it’s this: For the season they have been absolutely stellar defensively as they have allowed only 24 points per game. The Cougars allow 34 points per.

“Their (defensive) pressure has caused a lot of problems for opponents,” said Brown. “They come at you in the full court and half court with a 1-2-2 zone so we’re going to have to move the ball.”

Brown also added that the Cougars prefer to set up shop in the half court while his team loves to run in transition. That being said whichever team controls tempo will likely have an advantage. If the Irish can get up and down the floor quickly it bodes well for them. If the game is played in a half-court setting the advantage shifts to the Cougars.

Going in Adrian Lenawee Christian is led by the sister combination of Bree and Dani Salenbien, who are daughters of the first-year head coach Jamie. Dani had 21 points in the regional semifinal win over Portland St. Pat’s while Bree had 19. Both can also shoot the three which means the Irish will have to extend their defense out.

Post player Jenna Lilly has also been rock-solid in the postseason for the Cougars, who are in the semifinal round for the first time since 2011.

The Irish have gotten it done by playing as a team. All-Staters Sophie Ruggles and Scout Nelson had led the charge all season but the likes of Grace Reetz, Megan Nowak, Hadyn Terwilliger, Sam McDonald and Maggie Yonker have also played big roles.

The winner of Thursday night’s semifinal advances to Saturday’s 10 a.m. Class D state final.