In leading the Winnipeg Wesmen to a big win against their crosstown rivals, Kato Jaro has earned Canada West's top weekly honour. 

Jaro, a third-year guard with the Wesmen men's basketball team, was named the conference player of the week Tuesday after helping the Wesmen take down the Manitoba Bisons last Friday at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 

Jaro scored a season-high 23 points — one off his career-high of 24 set last season — to lead the Wesmen to a 76-71 overtime victory that kept Winnipeg just a game back of Alberta for first place in the Prairie Division. 

Jaro scored 16 first-half points, including 10 in second quarter when the Wesmen outscored the hosts 22-13. Late in the quarter, Jaro scored seven straight points for the Wesmen. 

He shot 50 per cent from the field and from three, knocking down 7 of 14 field goals and three of his six three-point attempts. He added four rebounds and four assists, and matched his career-high with four steals. 

Jaro currently sits third in the conference — and fifth in the country — in assists per game with 5.8. 

The Wesmen improved to 7-3 on the season and are in the top four in the Canada West in win percentage heading into the holiday break.