[BillyMac]

A1 jumps to attempt try and is in the act of shooting. B1 also jumps and legally blocks A1's shot such that A1 is unable to release the ball. Gravity takes over as both airborne A1 and airborne B1 begin to descend to the floor. However, before A1 returns to the floor B1 illegally contacts A1 by grabbing A1's forearm (B1's hand slides down from contacting the ball to contacting A1's forearm), followed by both A1 and B1 returning to the floor.

For some reason, all three officials pass on calling the held ball, but the lead calls the holding foul on B1 before A1 had returned to the floor. Team A is not in the bonus.

As the lead reports the foul to the table, all the players, and the other two officials, prepare for two free throws by A1, but when the lead returns after reporting the foul he wants it to be Team A designated spot throwin at one of the four spots nearest the foul, stating that A1, never having released the ball because the ball was blocked by B1, was not in the act of shooting when fouled by B1.

Of course the easiest and correct call would have been a held ball, but it wasn't called, so what do you guys have next in the situation described?

Not only did I observe this, but I was in on the post game discussion regarding this situation, so it occurred exactly as I described above.

Act of shooting, or not? Protect the airborne shooter all the way back down to the floor?

Act of shooting ended when try was blocked (certain the throw is unsuccessful)?

Held ball should not have been called until both players legally returned to the floor?

4-1: Airborne Shooter
ART. 1 An airborne shooter is a player who has released the ball on a try for a goal or has tapped the ball and has not returned to the floor.
ART. 2 The airborne shooter is considered to be in the act of shooting.

4-41: Shooting, Try, Tap
ART. 1 The act of shooting begins simultaneously with the start of the try or tap for field goal and ends when the ball is clearly in flight, and includes the airborne shooter.
ART. 2 A try for field goal is an attempt by a player to score two or three points by throwing the ball into a team’s own basket. A player is trying for goal when the player has the ball and in the official’s judgment is throwing or attempting to throw for goal. It is not essential that the ball leave the player’s hand as a foul could prevent release of the ball.
ART. 4 The try ends when the throw is successful, when it is certain the throw is unsuccessful, when the thrown ball touches the floor or when the ball becomes dead.

4-11: Continuous Motion
ART. 1 Continuous motion applies to a try or tap for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by any defensive player during the interval which begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight.
ART. 2 If an opponent fouls after a player has started a try for goal, he/she is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight.

6-7: Dead ball: The ball becomes dead, or remains dead, when:
ART. 7 A foul, other than player-control or team-control, occurs (see exceptions a, b and c below).
Exception: The ball does not become dead until the try or tap for field goal ends, or until the airborne shooter returns to the floor, when:
c. Article 7 occurs by any opponent of a player who has started a try or tap for field goal (is in the act of shooting) before the foul occurred, provided time did not expire before the ball was in flight. The trying motion must be continuous and begins after the ball comes to rest in the player’s hand(s) on a try or touches the hand(s) on a tap, and is completed when the ball is clearly in flight. The trying motion may include arm, foot or body movements used by the player when throwing the ball at his/her basket.

4.25.2 SITUATION: A1 jumps to try for goal or to pass the ball. B1 leaps or reaches and is able to put his/her hands on the ball and keep A1 from releasing it. A1: (a) returns to the floor with the ball; or (b) is unable to control the ball and it drops to the floor. RULING: A held ball results immediately in (a) and (b) when airborne A1 is prevented from releasing the ball to pass or try for goal.