Youngest Esh Gets Starting Debut In Breaker Win

Box Score 

Loyola Breaker freshman Kelsey Esh made her varsity starting debut over her sister Kylie in a blowout 61-22 win for the Heart-Breakers over the Mission Bulldogs Friday night.

Kylie Esh missed practice time over the week while attending the Phoenix Open and enjoying her natural craft, golf, allowing her sister Kelsey the opportunity to have her first varsity start of her high school career. The two sisters played quality minutes together Friday night when Kylie subbed in for Sam Clevenger with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter, and the two girls dominated for the rest of the game.

The Breakers surged out to a 7-0 run sparked by an opening three pointer by Syd Koppang, forcing Lady Bulldog Head Coach Jennifer Brander to call a time out. Loyola suffocated Mission with a full court press that barely allowed the Lady Bulldogs to cross half court, holding Mission scoreless in the first quarter while dropping 29 points of their won.

Mission earned their first points of the game with 4:38 left in the second quarter, and the mercy rule went into effect as the clock would roll for the rest of the night due to Loyola having a 40 point or larger lead. Leading 44-3 at the half Loyola kept their foot on the gas pedal, not allowing the bulldogs to break the double digit mark until the third quarter expired when Kayden Burke hit a pair of free throws.

Syd Koppang and Tessa Burke combined for 21 points in the first quarter, Koppang going three for four from the three point line, and Burke scored 10 points in the paint. Both girls finished the night with 14 points each, and Kylie Esh came off the bench and added 13 points overall, six coming in the second quarter in the paint. Overall the Breakers shot 57% from the free throw line and 38% from the arc. In her first varsity start, Kelsy Esh scored four points, and contributed in the opening quarter steals.

The Breakers will join the Rams on Monday and hop on the bus for a ride to Troy to play the Trojans. You will be able to get the live audio stream on the Missoula Prep Sports Network by selecting Live Stream under the Live tab on the Home page.