.3

[BigCat]

My initial reaction was that that should not have counted. But the rule doesn't say only a "bat" is allowed. His hand was on TOP of ball and a push down. The ball was barely outside the cylinder and a couple inches above rim level. If the player is "tapping" ball up his hand will stay in contact with ball for few inches potentially. This was a push down, hard, of only a few inches. Again The ball was never sitting on top of his hand. He did not palm the ball.

It was clearly not a "bat." Is the only difference between a tap and bat that the tap is directed at the goal? If that's the case, no goal.