A West Virginia high school basketball game turned into a courtroom drama after an 18-year-old player was charged with felony assault for breaking an opponent’s nose with an intentional elbow strike.
At a Glance
- Gage Ketterman, 18, from Harman School faces adult felony charges for allegedly elbowing an opponent during a basketball game
- The victim suffered a broken nose that bled for over four hours, requiring hospital treatment
- Video evidence confirmed Ketterman intentionally struck the Union High School player and taunted others
- Ketterman faces charges of malicious assault and attempted malicious assault with a court date set for May 22
From Basketball Court to Criminal Court
West Virginia State Police are pursuing serious criminal charges against high school basketball player Gage Ketterman following a violent incident during a game between Harman School and Union High School. The 18-year-old Harman player allegedly struck an opponent with his elbow on February 27, causing injuries severe enough to warrant felony charges. Authorities reviewed video footage of the game, which they say clearly shows Ketterman deliberately elbowing his opponent in the face and engaging in other aggressive behavior toward players from the opposing team.
Law enforcement described Ketterman’s actions as intentional and criminally malicious in court documents. The severity of the charges stems from the nature of the injuries sustained by the Union High School player. According to reports filed by the victim’s mother, her son’s nose was broken in the altercation, resulting in profuse bleeding that continued for more than four hours and necessitated emergency medical treatment at a hospital.
Serious Injuries and Evidence
The mother of the injured player reported to authorities that her son was “elbowed in the face” during the game, resulting in a broken nose and heavy bleeding. The victim’s injuries were significant enough that they required immediate medical attention, with the mother stating that her son’s nose bled “profusely” for an extended period. These injuries form the basis for the serious charges now faced by Ketterman, who is being prosecuted as an adult due to his age at the time of the incident.
“The victim’s nose bled profusely for over four hours, requiring hospital treatment,” according to court documents.
State police investigators gathered evidence by reviewing video footage of the game, which they claim clearly shows Ketterman striking his opponent “directly in the face” with his elbow. The footage reportedly captures not only the moment of impact but also Ketterman’s subsequent actions, which authorities described as taunting. According to police reports, Ketterman was observed “wiping something off the elbow he had just used to strike [the Union player],” suggesting awareness of his actions.
Legal Consequences and Next Steps
Ketterman now faces one count of malicious assault and two counts of attempted malicious assault. These are adult felony charges that carry potentially serious penalties if he is convicted. Following his arrest, Ketterman was released after posting a $12,500 bond on the same day. The legal process is moving forward, with his next scheduled court appearance set for May 22, where the case against him will proceed.
The case raises important questions about the line between competitive physical play in sports and criminal conduct. While contact sports like basketball naturally involve physical interaction between players, authorities determined that Ketterman’s actions crossed the boundary into intentional assault with criminal malice. The charges against him reflect the assessment that his conduct went well beyond acceptable physical play, even in the context of a competitive sporting event.
