BAY CITY, MI -- Here is a look at some of the stories that are relevent on the high school boys basketball scene in the MLive Bay City coverage area for the 2025-26 season.

STARS ARE MISSING

The first thing that jumps out on the Bay City area boys basketball scene this season is who is not there.

Two of the top stars of 2025 – who were projected to have monstrous seasons in 2026 – are no longer playing as Arnell Somlar and Meech Ward did not return to their teams.

Somlar was a first-team All-Stater and the reigning MLive Bay City Player of the Year. But the Bay City Academy student, who has led Bay County in scoring the past three seasons while competing with the co-operative team at Bay City All Saints, chose not to play his senior season.

He sits just 90 points away from being Bay

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