Vote Now: Select Patch's Next Athlete of the Week

Be heard by picking our Patch Athlete of the Week of the southwest for the week ending Jan. 8.

Vote for one of the following (or write in your own candidate in the comments):

: Alec Boyd, senior guard on the boys basketball team. Boyd scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter during an . The loss was Glenbard West's first of the season. Boyd scored four quick points to spark an 8-0 run that forced overtime. He also made all four free throws in OT to help clinch the win. Boyd finished the game with 13 points total.

: Jerron Wilbut, who earned all-tournament honors at the Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament. He averaged 19 pts. per game. Wilbut started Monday's game against Fremd with a thunderous dunk, led the Mustangs comeback after a 10-point deficit and scored 17 points. (Vote for Wilbut under the DGS boys basketball team.)

: Darien Swarm PeeWee cheerleaders. A first place win at the Pop Warner Regional Meet at Northern University , held Dec. 6 at the ESPN Sports Complex. At the conference competition, the squad placed second and were thrilled to advance to the regional competition. 

: Juozas Balciunas, boys basketball team. Balciunas scored 14 points, including two clutch 3-pointers in the third quarter, to help the Indians defeat Richards 52-44. Lemont is now 12-2 this season, thanks, in part, to Balciunas' contributions on the court.

 Mike Keane. Senior on the boys basketball team. Keane's 22 points against Glenbard East helped Naperville North, now 9-4 on the season, to a 71-63 come from behind win. The Huskies fought back from a 10-point first-half deficit and out rebounded Glenbard East 37-14.

: Jaylen Nunn, senior forward on the boys basketball team. Nunn scored 22 points Friday to lead the Spartans to a 71-67 victory over Plainfield South.

Want to write in your own candidate? Go ahead! But be sure to explain your pick in the comments and be sure to vote by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.