Stoughton Girls' Basketball Unable to Complete Comeback vs. Holliston

The Stoughton High girls’ basketball team trailed Holliston 37-28 heading into the fourth quarter of Monday’s game, but the Black Knights, led by their sophomore center Nicole Daniels, battled back.

Stoughton went on a 12-2 run in the first five-plus minutes of the final quarter, with Daniels scoring eight of the 12 points, including the first six for the Black Knights.

The Black Knights took a 40-39 lead following two free throws from Daniels with 2:54 left, but Holliston, who had been stymied by the Stoughton press defense, rediscovered their offensive touch in the final minutes, and closed out the game with an 11-2 run to hold on for a 50-42 win.

With the loss Stoughton falls to 5-12. Monday’s game was held at Sharon high as part of the two-day Girls’ Basketball Showcase.

“Give [Holliston] credit. We gave them a scare, but they hung tough and managed to pull it out in the end,” Stoughton head coach Janet Sullivan said.

Just like Daniels served as the catalyst for the Black Knights’ run, Holliston junior Jackie Sostilio provided the spark for her team. Sostilio scored four straight points when Holliston was trailing 40-39, and gave them a lead they would not relinquish.

Ahead 43-42, Holliston’s Lindy Kyger then hit a three-pointer with 1:44 left.  Stoughton, now down by four, was unable to score the rest of the way.

The Black Knights trailed by as much as 13 late in the third quarter, but did not quit.

“In other games we’ve been down, but we kept our spirits up and kept going, and kept playing our game,” Daniels said.

“The press really got us back in [the game],” Sullivan said. “I thought we did a great job on the boards, and unusual for us, we had a great free throw shooting game. We got to the line, we got the job done, and that’s what kept us in the game.”

Stoughton scored 10 of its 14 fourth quarter points from the free throw line.

Sullivan said Daniels, who turned in a game-high 16 points, to go along with 12 rebounds, had her “best game of the year.” The sophomore came up with a number of key defensive plays, and provided an offensive spark when the Black Knights were trying to make a comeback.

“She’s been so strong for us,” Sullivan said. “She’s only a sophomore—she get’s better every single game, so if we can build off these and bring her into next season with all the experience she had this year, I think we’ll be in really good shape.”

In a physical game, Stoughton lost their point guard in the early going when Emma Zuk sustained a sizeable cut to her chin.

“I thought the team really stepped it up when she went out, and did a terrific job,” Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, Chrystal Holland sustained a contusion on her right elbow midway through the second quarter. She missed the rest of the half, but returned for the third and fourth quarters.

Holland added 10 points, while Sydnee Jackson and Katherine Chulus each chipped in with 4 points. Mackenzie Hudson had three points.

The girls’ basketball team wraps up its season Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Notre Dame (Hingham). The game will be played at Sharon High.