A mother was infuriated after watching a clip of her 15-year-old daughter getting sucker-punched by an opponent during a youth club basketball game.
The incident occurred in Garden Grove, California during an AVAC United girl's basketball game.
Avac United organizes games for teens between the ages of 13 to 16 across Southern California.
Both girls in the video are 15.
Sucker punch at youth basketball game in Orange County leaves girl with concussion; mother has filed police report https://t.co/gzNqmf7Yws
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 10, 2021
Alice Ham said her daughter suffered a concussion as a result of the incident. She claimed the mother of the other teenage girl encouraged the attack.
"THIS… this right here makes me SICK to my stomach," wrote Ham in an Instagram post.
"This happened to MY DAUGHTER at her game yesterday. There is absolutely no place for something like this in basketball, I don't care how famous you are!!"
You can watch the clip here.
"This mom told her daughter to 'go and hit her'," wrote Ham adding, "and my kid gets an unprovoked sucker punch."
"I'm sorry but it's everything that's wrong with youth sports. The girl and her mom showed absolutely no remorse and offered no apology. Youth sports needs to change."
The video showed Ham's daughter getting tangled up and falling to the floor during a play with an opponent whose father was identified as a former NBA player.
No fouls were called on the play.
The two girls got back on their feet and walked down the court, side by side. A woman was then heard yelling, "You better hit her."
Seconds later, the teen swung her arm and delivered a blow to Ham's daughter's face knocking her to the floor.
I say yet again, WHAT HAVE WE BECOME ??? My God, people see violence as their go to solution whenever there's conflict ? We,as a society cannot survive if this kind of behavior continues to grow as it has.Lives are being lost over trivial little conflicts.
— Rocco (@Boppauumaomao9) November 10, 2021
According to the NBC News clip below, Ham filed a police report.
A spokesperson for the Garden Grove Police Department said an investigation of the incident is ongoing.
Ham was elsewhere watching her other children play during the incident.
Ham, told KTLA she realized something was wrong when her daughter returned home after her basketball game disoriented. Teammates and other parents showed Ham the video.
She told ABC's Eyewitness News:
"I want the daughter and the mom held accountable. Because this type of behavior is reprehensible and cannot happen in youth sports."
"I can hear pretty clearly the mom (in the video). I know it's the mom because the witnesses at the site told me."
"It's pretty clear that she tells her daughter you have to hit her for that. What 'that' is, I don't know. I don't know what the mom thinks she saw."
If that happened to my child, the mother would be in the hospital... Period...
— Mark (@MJfactor) November 10, 2021
Lieutenant Mario Martinez of the Garden Grove Police Department told the Huffington Post:
"The video is disturbing to watch obviously."
Yeah, there has to be consequences. Maybe Attacker should be fined for medical expenses, do volunteer work for 1-3 yrs, and apologize publicly. I don't think jail is the answer. Although, the victim is lucky to be walking away. This could have easily been a more severe injury.
— Syrissa T (@syrissa) November 10, 2021
No, her attorneys comment is not good enough. If the minor is capable of committing an adult act (giving a concussion with a punch), the minor should be tried like an adult. She should be held accountable. This action deserves jail time.
— Read Option (@TheReadOption1) November 10, 2021
That girl isn't remorseful at all… she won't have done it! She's old enough to know from right from wrong.
— 🌹𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖘🌹 (@marsmars____) November 10, 2021
This is unacceptable!! That's a violent act and should never be tolerated. Parents should be held accountable too.
— Scott (@wisdommoment) November 11, 2021
Ham's daughter missed school for several days following the incident but Ham said she looks forward to going back to school and playing basketball again soon.
Lawyer Brett Greenfield, who represents the family of the girl who threw the punch, suggested the family understands the seriousness of the situation.
Greenfield told NBC:
"We are in no way trying to downplay and/or disrespect the seriousness of this situation. What is vital to remember is that these are two very young minors involved."
"The family recognizes the seriousness of this incident and will continue to take every necessary step to manage this in a positive way."
Greenfield confirmed the girl is the 15-year-old daughter of former Chicago Bulls player Corey Benjamin.
He added:
"The comments on social media in response to this incident are a cause of great concern for both the minor and her family."
"We would respectfully request that she be given the benefit of the doubt and that her privacy be respected given her young age."
The CEO of Avac United, Gary Thomas, told KTLA the organization will cooperate with any investigation. They have banned the girl who punched Ham's daughter and her mother from AVAC events until further notice.
Thomas said:
"We're very sorry… we want everybody to feel safe. We want everyone to feel secure."
"This is an environment where kids should have fun and enjoy and be safe."
