Marion’s Engle completes prep hoops career, with brother cheering him on

CEDAR RAPIDS – D.J. Engle was in the front row of the bleachers Wednesday night at Johnson Hall, cheering on his younger brother, Craig, in his final high-school basketball game. You wouldn't have expected anything else.

'I think I've missed maybe one,” he said.

That's ever since Craig Engle began playing so long ago. Despite being 12 years apart in age, these brothers have such a special relationship.

It's a bond that has been strengthened by tragedy.

Their father, Douglas Wayne Engle Sr., committed suicide when Craig was in first grade. D.J., or Douglas Wayne Engle Jr., was a senior at Marion High School, just like Craig is now.

'When my dad was here, we always spent a lot of time together watching sports,” Craig said, after his North squad topped the South, 84-71, in the boys' portion of the Eastern Iowa All-Star Game double-header. 'He loved basketball, loved the Chicago Bulls. When he passed away, my brother stepped up and became a father figure to me. He has been to every single one of my games. I couldn't ask for a better brother.”

'It was something I felt like I had to do, you know?” D.J. said. 'I never really thought about it. Once it happened, that was my role. I was the oldest guy in the house, he was still so young. I just felt like it was my duty, I guess.”

D.J. Engle knew he needed to take care of his mother and two younger sisters. And especially his little brother.

'I went to college for a year,” he said. 'Craig called me crying every day. So I had to come back home.”

He has never regretted it. D.J. beams with pride about Craig, the fine young man he is and the fine young basketball player he has become.

Engle played on the Marion varsity for three seasons, was the Indians' leading scorer this season (16.1 points per game) and a Wamac Conference first-team guard. That he was invited to play in a game like this, one that included four Division I college signees, tells you what people think about him.

'It was a blast, awesome,” he said with a smile. 'Especially because not too many Marion kids get the chance to come out here and do this. I'm glad I get to represent Marion in a good way.”

Craig agreed that basketball always was a way to help him cope with his father's loss, yet also feel closer to him at the same time. He pointed to a 17-point game this season right before Christmas at Washington (Iowa) as being probably his most memorable.

'That was where my dad passed away,” he said. 'I had one of my best games of the season there, and I felt like that was for him.”

Of course, they're all kind of for D.J. Craig Engle plans on playing next season at Cornell College.

He almost had to pick a school that was close. How else would his brother be able to watch him every single game?

'It's been fun to watch him,” D.J. Engle said. 'I feel kind of rewarded, selfishly, I guess. But he's a good ballplayer, that's all there is to it. I couldn't be any more proud of him.”

Dubuque Wahlert's Josh Carter was named Most Valuable Player in the boys' game. Iowa City West's David DiLeo won the 3-point shooting contest, including topping Springville's Sarah Matus, the girls' 3-point champ.

The South won the girls' game, 51-50, with Andrea Larson of Mediapolis the MVP.

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