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Grand Haven junior returns from hospital after being punched at basketball tournament

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Posted at 6:03 PM, Jul 18, 2021
and last updated 2021-07-20 21:00:30-04

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — UPDATE: As first reported by freelance sports writer/photographer Lenny Padilla, Sorelle is back home and is feeling a lot better.

The Grand Haven Junior was hospitalized with a severe concussion after being punched in a summer travel league basketball game this weekend.

Harrison Sorrelle and the MBA Lakeshore 16u team was playing in the 'Brawl for the Ball' tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana when the incident occurred.

After scoring a basket to give him 26 points, Sorrelle was punched by an opponent when he wasn't looking, knocking him out before he fell to the ground.

Sorrelle's coach confirmed to Fox 17 that Sorrelle has been hospitalized with a severe concussion.

Grand Rapids native and referee Drew Zuidema was on the court when it happened.

"I was the trail official, Harrison was giving this guy buckets, playing really well, giving it to him on the one end, the other players were talking to that player like 'man he's killing you, man', the ball got inbounded and as I was trailing as the trail official, all I saw was a left hook," Zuidema told Fox 17. "He full-on launched at him, clocked him across the face, Harrison was knocked out as he was standing up, he fell straight back on his head. I saw it right in front of my own eyes."

Fox 17 was initially told that the player who threw the punch was arrested on scene, but tournament officials later said that he took off while Sorrelle was being tended to.

Fort Wayne police are looking for the player and plan to arrest him when found.

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