Athlete of the Week: Junior Girls Basketball Player Jackie Sostilio

On the court, Holliston junior forward Jackie Sostilio can do pretty much everything: rebound, shoot and defend. And she owes a great deal of her game to two other players in the Panthers' starting lineup, both of whom reside right down the hall.

Playing alongside her sisters (senior Vicky and junior Jordan), the five-foot-eight Jackie attributes much of her individual and team success to sibling fueds and a passion for the game.

“Last year was the first real year we played all together and there were a lot of fights in practice,” said Jackie Sostilio. “A lot of back-talking and stuff, but this year, I think it made us all closer. So far there are no fights, no nothing. It’s very nice.”

Jackie Sostilio has been playing great basketball lately as Holliston has risen in the Tri-Valley League standings. Having won five consecutive games before Monday night’s tough , the Panthers (9-4, 9-4 Tri-Valley League) are preparing themselves to make a nice run come March in the Division 2 South sectional tournament.

“We’re having a very good season so far, having just been on a five-game winning streak,” said Jackie Sostilio. “We have our toughest opponent on Friday when we play Medway, so I think we’ll really come out strong and go far the rest of the season.”

Jackie Sostilio makes her presence felt with tremendous hustle, key rebounding, and timely scoring. In , the junior scored a game-high 21 points, which was nearly half of what her team totaled in the 48-47 victory.

The junior forward was also impressive vs. Norton earlier this season in as she led all scorers with 18 points. That win helped Holliston snap a two-game slide.

“My coaches really push me to do my best,” said Jackie Sostilio. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t doing well at all (scoring only four points a game) but after going into my coach’s office she said 'I know you can do better, you just need to believe in yourself.' And ever since that day, it’s just been getting up from there. I could not have done it without her.”

Jackie Sostilio has her team in good shape to make a postseason run as Holliston trails only three teams in the TVL standings. The Panthers have a chance to draw even with Medway (10-3) on Friday night (, 6:30 p.m.) and remain one win away from the state tournament heading into Tuesday night's home game against Dover-Sherborn at 6:30 p.m.