Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from March 3-8.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Jazzy Alcantar, Encinal basketball: The senior scored a game-high 26 points against Washington-SF in the NorCal Division V semifinal. The Jets ended the week just one win away from their first appearance in a state title game.
Kayli Bertrand, Cornerstone Christian basketball: The versatile guard scored 14 points in Cornerstone’s victory over Fall River. Her big performance helped send the Antioch school to the NorCal D-VI final.
Leah Lynch: Sacred Heart Prep soccer: The senior defender’s header off a pass from Camryn Sheldon scored the stoppage-time goal that gave SHP a 3-2 win secured the NorCal Division IV title.
Miliani Makasini, St. Francis soccer: The sophomore scored the game-winning goal against Mitty with seven minutes left in the NorCal Division I title game, helping give the Lancers their second regional crown in three seasons.
Dominique Neville, Hillsdale lacrosse: The senior scored four goals and had an assist in a 14-4 victory over Priory. Neville, who also has played soccer and tennis, score 36 goals last season for the lacrosse team.
Xochitl Nieves, Half Moon Bay basketball: The junior guard scored 15 points in a NorCal Division IV semifinal victory over Rio Linda, sending the Cougars to their first-ever regional final in program history.
Keona Perez, Lincoln-San Jose softball: The senior had a huge day at the plate in Lincoln’s 14-1 victory over Cupertino. She batted 5 for 5, had one RBI and scored three runs as the team ended the week 3-0.
Ariana “Tuki” Rocha, Arroyo softball: The pitcher struck out nine and allowed just one hit in Arroyo’s 20-0 five-inning rout of American. That gave Arroyo its first victory of the season.
Timaree Serrano, California School for the Deaf softball: In a wild 16-15 CSD victory that saw San Lorenzo score 10 runs in the top of the ninth, and CSD put up three to win in a walk-off, Serrano had four hits and scored five runs for the Eagles.
Janelle Solis, Piedmont basketball: The freshman point guard scored 17 points and had six assists against San Joaquin Memorial to help the Highlanders advance to the NorCal Division I semifinals. Piedmont beat Oakland Tech in the first round.
