Better ask him if he likes bottled or draft. You lose. There is no requirement that the ball be "possessed" in the frontcourt. If you read the rule carefully, it only says that the
team in control can't be the first to touch the ball in the backcourt, etc. The oft-posted requirements for a backcourt call are:
1) Team A has team control
2) Ball attains frontcourt status
3) A member of Team A is the last player to touch the ball before it goes into the backcourt.
4) A member of Team A is the first player to touch the ball after it goes into the backcourt.
In your play, all 4 points are met. There was team control. The ball attained frontcourt status when it hit the official. A1 was the last player to touch the ball before it went into the backcourt, and then A1 was also the first to touch it after it went into the backcourt.
Violation!! Hope your buddy's not too thirsty.
