Staff file photos / Neel Madhavan Ursuline’s Noah Bell, left photo, looks to pass, while Jaylen Gunther, right photo, puts up a shot during their game against Warren G. Harding on Dec. 12 in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — Over the past three years, Ursuline has seen players come and go through the program. Some players have graduated, and new players have come up, while some players have transferred in and other players have transferred out.

But two players have remained a constant since the Fighting Irish’s run to the Division II state final four in 2024: the junior duo of Jaylen Gunther and Noah Bell.

The pair started playing AAU basketball together in eighth grade and have been inseparable ever since. As freshmen, Gunther and Bell got their first taste of success at the varsity level as part of a final four team, and they have been chasing to repeat that feat ever since.

This season, they have reached new heights as two of the top scorers in the state of Ohio, and they’ve helped guide Ursuline to a 10-2 record.

“To watch them grow as individuals, the work that they both put in, the lifting, the extra time that they put in, that’s what’s made them both great,” Irish head coach Keith Gunther said. “I sent them both a text the other day. I’ve had some phenomenal players in my coaching history here. But I don’t know if I’ve had two guys that are this effective as a unit together on one team. We’ve had some great individual players, along with some great teams. But two guys that are doing what they’re doing? I don’t know if I’ve ever had that before.”

Through 12 games, the dynamic duo is averaging 54.9 of Ursuline’s 73.2 points per game, with Jaylen Gunther averaging 31.2 points and Bell averaging 23.7 points.

As one of Ohio’s top prospects in the Class of 2027, Jaylen Gunther has been on a tear all year. He opened the season with 27 points against Canton Central Catholic and has scored fewer than 20 points in a game just once.

He had a season-high 40 points against Gates Mills Gilmour Academy on Jan. 3 and has six 30-plus point games.

“I got a new basketball trainer — Jeremy Williams, he’s great. He’s basically the reason for all my successes this season,” Jaylen Gunther said. “The improvement I saw working out with him, it’s skyrocketed since I started working out. So it’s all from him and God. I put in countless hours over the summer coming into the season, so it’s just all paying off.”

Bell had a bit of a slower start to the season, averaging 13.5 points per game over the Irish’s first four games.

But ever since a 27-point outing against Pickerington Central on Dec. 21, he has yet to score less than 20 points in a game.

The last month for Bell has included a 39-point explosion against North Catholic (Pa.) on Dec. 23, as well as a 34-point performance against University School.

“I think I viewed the slow start as a challenge for me, like something to look forward to for getting better and bouncing back,” Bell said. “It may have struck my confidence a little bit. But it only took me a few days to get right back to it. My faith kept me strong, God kept me strong. I knew it was all part of His plan. My teammates were encouraging, my coaching staff was encouraging, and I stayed true to myself. I know I put the work in, so it just paid off eventually, and I started playing the way I know how.”

What makes each of their numbers this season even more impressive is that they’re scoring at this clip while being the focal point of opposing teams’ defenses and scouting reports.

For example, in a loss to Warren G. Harding on Dec. 12, Jaylen Gunther and Bell had their hands full all night. The Raiders were relentless throughout the game, double-teaming each of them when they had the ball, face-guarding them off the ball and doing whatever they could to get the ball out of their hands.

The Irish had to adjust how they play since that game, and it’s helped contribute to their success.

“We know primarily what teams are going to do every game,” Keith Gunther said. “So what we do, and it’s the first time I’ve really had to do this, we’re putting in new offensive sets almost every game to adjust to how we think that team is going to play us. I’ve never done that before. … Sometimes losses are bad, but that Harding loss was really effective and important on guys understanding what they need to do for us to be successful.”

Part of that success has been how Jaylen Gunther and Bell play off each other on the floor, as well as how they play off their other teammates like seniors Alex Simon, Nick Markulin and Eddie Barnes.

“We accepted the challenge,” Bell said. “We realized it’s going to be an every-game thing, and I feel like our teammates played a major part in that because they’re knocking down shots and they’re making plays that will lead us to wins. Our coaching staff is getting us the ball and creating plays for us to get the ball and still make plays, even if it’s not scoring or getting our teammates the ball, getting to the foul line, they’re putting us in positions to win and succeed.”

REACHING MILESTONES

On Dec. 19, Jaylen Gunther eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Heading into the showdown with the Cardinals, Gunther needed 33 points to reach 1,000. He finished with 34 points, hitting the milestone with his last basket of the game — a put-back jumper in the middle of the lane off a missed free throw by Bell.

With 10 games left in the regular season, plus the playoffs still looming after that, Gunther is now 157 points away from the Ursuline boys all-time scoring record.

“It’s incredible. Obviously, it’s a great feeling to accomplish those types of things, all-time scoring record, stuff like that, stuff I’m going to look back on for the rest of my life,” Jaylen Gunther said. “But I feel like we haven’t achieved our main goal, which is winning the state championship.I feel like we knew that these kinds of things were going to come eventually, but I feel like the one thing we’re hungry for right now is winning that state championship.”

Bell is also coming up on the 1,000-point mark himself. On Jan. 1, he was 215 points away. Now, just four games later, he’s only 129 points shy.

If he continues at his current pace, he should also reach the milestone before the end of the regular season.

“It’s definitely a blessing. God definitely gifted me with all these amazing things, gifted me with basketball and all the amazing things this journey has brought me,” Bell said. “So I just give all glory to Him. I love being here, I love playing for Ursuline, I love my teammates, and I love my coaching staff. I’m just trying to live in the moment. Take everything, every achievement day by day and just keep pushing forward.”