More than 500 wins, 14 state trips
highlight Faire's run, Little's return

Craig Faire's Ellensburg's girls have qualified for state seven straight years with trophies in each of the past three trips. Last year, the Bulldogs placed second.   ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic file

Hang that on Mark Little, who returned to Prosser's helm this season after a 12-year hiatus.

"I ran into Mark at a tournament last summer and said, "Oh, you're helping out?," Faire asked. "He said, 'Well, actually, I think I'm back at it.' I
just started laughing."

"Laughing," Little recalled, "as if to say, 'Are you crazy?' Most people
would say yes."

They are fierce competitors and the architects of powerful programs, but Faire and Little enjoy each other's company as much as any rivals can and the rekindling of that friendship this season has been a joy for both.

And it will continue this week on the big stage as Ellensburg and Prosser open play Wednesday in the Class 2A state tournament in the SunDome.

Last Saturday in Sunnyside, the combined career wins for Faire and Little reached 500 when Ellensburg earned its seventh straight state berth with an elimination victory over East Valley. A couple hours later No. 501 came when
Prosser knocked off Othello for the CWAC district title.

"Everybody calls me the old man in the league, well, wait a minute here," Faire said. "Mark started before me. Let's get that straight."

Little can't hide from either attack -- he's 53 and he started a 13-year stint at Prosser with the 1985-86 season. Faire is 52 and he started at Ellensburg in 1990-91.

The hitch for Little is that in 1997, after leading the Mustangs into the Class AA state championship final, he stepped down to make more room in his life for his wife, Cindy, and their two young daughters.

"The youngest was born on the last day of the regular season, and she was there at state," Little said. "I had made the decision before the season started that was going to be it. And no, I didn't think I'd coach again, at
least not as a head coach."

Had Little called it a career right there it would have been a full and prosperous one. His 1989 Mustangs won the Class A state title with Kelly Blair as MVP, and the 1997 crew was the AA runner-up with another state-tournament MVP, Meredith Walker.

But after 12 years, during which he continued as an assistant for the juggernaut football program, Little decided a return was doable. Even though his thought process was, admittedly, a bit fuzzy.

"I don't really have an answer for why, it's kind of crazy," he said. "It's an enormous amount of work and a sacrifice for our family. But the girls are 12 and 13 and old enough to come to practice. I sort of talked myself into
it and I'm glad I did."

And talk about timing. Little steps away after coaching in a state championship game and returns 12 years later with a top-ranked crew that brings a 21-1 record to state.

All of which he credits to former coach Daron Santo, assistant coach Scott Yetter and stout bunch of players who took home a third-place trophy from last year's state tournament in Tacoma.

"Daron and Scott have done a fantastic job, and these kids know how to play," said Little, a teacher at Prosser Heights Elementary for nearly 30 years. "We run a lot of stuff Daron did so there hasn't been a big change. I send him CDs of the games and we talk quite a lot."

Even with the return of CWAC co-MVP Lacie French and scoring leader Tamara Jones, the Mustangs still had to overcome the graduation of three starters, including career scoring leader Jordan Brown.

Faire's reloading job was even more daunting with the departure four-year star Kayla Standish and three other starters. The Bulldogs showed their promise with a December win over Lynden but were 0-7 against the CWAC's bigs - Prosser, Othello and East Valley -- heading into the breakthrough against the Red Devils in the winner-to-state, loser-out game.

"It's a real tribute to the kids that they believed it was possible and stuck with their goals even when there was a little doubt growing," Faire said. "Without Kayla and the others, it was really the start of a new era. Our three seniors (Casey Kelleher, Casey Demory and Nicole Prigge) have really helped us with that transition."

Faire, who is in his 30th year teaching at Kittitas High School, has guided the Bulldogs to five state trophies, highlighted by last year's 2A runner-up finish in Tacoma. He's accumulated 281 wins in 18 seasons.

"It's definitely been a stretch, especially nowadays, with a few bumps along the way," he said. "But we've had great kids and made a nice run (of state trips). Sometimes it feels like that might backfire because people get spoiled and just expect it every year. That's why I'm so proud of this team."

And so glad to share the experience with his old friend.

"I had to dig through my old notes to see what he likes to do," Faire said of Little's return. "He's a great guy and he really knows basketball. I've always enjoyed coaching against him."

"Craig's a fantastic coach," Little said with a tone that sounds like a joke is coming next. But it doesn't, for now. "He figures things out pretty quick. I'm never surprised at how well his teams play, they're always tough."

At the coaches meeting two weeks ago to select the CWAC's all-league teams, Faire was quick to speak up for his friend after the Mustangs went 17-1 in the conference.

When the subject of coach of the year arose, he shot a smile at Little and offered a quick answer.

"Easy," Faire said, unable to resist, "Daron Santo."