Soda Springs senior Reagan Yamauchi got emotional talking about the bond this season’s team shared. #idpreps pic.twitter.com/elUeA8mUPG

— Michael Guise (@Michael_Guise) February 16, 2019

NAMPA — With tears in their eyes, Leilani Finlayson, Kate White and Reagan Yamauchi walked off the court at the Ford Idaho Center with their arms around one another.

The medals dangling around their necks and beaming smiles spoke for themselves. For the second consecutive season, Soda Springs reached the state’s highest stage. The Cardinals beat Melba 50-34 on Saturday to win their second consecutive 2A state championship and third title in the last five seasons.

Soda Springs has won 53 games in a row, dating back to last season, and is the first 2A team to go undefeated since Butte County in 2006.

“This is kind of an indescribable feeling,” Yamauchi said. “When I look at these girls, they make me cry, because the bond we have as sisters.

“When we came out here, we said never forget the sisterhood because that is the most important thing.”

As Finlayson, White and Yamauchi made their way to the locker room together, Yamauchi was in the center, a fitting end to her career as a Cardinal. The senior scored a game-high 15 points Saturday and played 30 minutes, 54 seconds of a possible 32 minutes.

Yamauchi scored seven third-quarter points as the Cardinals buried the Mustangs after halftime, outscoring Melba 19-9 in the third. The Cardinals led by 10 points or more from the 7:46 mark of the third period until the final buzzer.

Yamauchi’s strong outing Saturday came on the heels on Friday’s semifinal matchup when she scored a game-high 18 points and was instrumental in the Cardinals reaching their ninth state championship game in the IHSAA era.

“Reagan has been huge,” senior post Jocelyn Balls said. “She is a huge part of this team. We are so happy to have her.”

The Cardinals sealed the game in the third quarter, but the first half featured the game’s turning point.

Melba’s Emma Clark knocked down a 3-pointer at the 3:20 mark of the first quarter, tying the game at 8-8. Melba missed its next 20 shots as Soda Springs jumped to a 22-13 lead at halftime.

Soda Springs outscored Melba 11-3 in the second as the Mustangs went cold from the field. Melba missed its first 14 shots of the second and did not score until there were eight seconds left in the frame.

Soda Spring fell behind 9-8 with 2:35 left in the first quarter and outscored the Mustangs 41-26 the rest of the way. Saturday’s win was coach Wade Schvaneveldt’s third first-place finish in his 18-year head coaching career at Soda Springs.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Schvaneveldt said. “Every night for basically two years, the girls stepped up and competed. There were no nights off. They worked hard for this.”

Dani Smith and Sadie Gronning combined for 21 points in Saturday’s win. Both guards will return next season and take on a larger role as Soda Springs say goodbye to Balls, Finlayson, White and Yamauchi, the squad’s four seniors.

Balls spent as much time on the court as she could before joining her team in the locker room. The senior wanted the memory to last. She wasn’t ready for her career to end as she left the locker room with the first-place trophy in her hands.

“After the game, coach told us to enjoy the moment,” Balls said. “We wanted to just soak it in. It’s going to be hard to take this jersey off.”

SODA SPRINGS 50, MELBA 34

Soda Springs 11 11 19 9 — 50

Melba 10 3 9 12 — 34

Soda Springs (50) Gronning 10, Smith 11, Yamauchi 15, White 1, Joc. Balls 4, Jor. Balls 2.

Melba (34) Trappett 2, K. Clark 12, Young 2, Cossel 4, E. Clark 7, Dayley 7.

SODA SPRINGS VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS