Running out of Eligible Players

[crosscountry55]

This is largely hypothetical, but something that dawned on me during a youth game that concluded with a team fielding only three players (they started with five)...and they ended up winning the game.

Suppose they had gotten down to one and the referee still believed they had a chance to win. Per rule, we play on. My question is, what happens to this team when the opponent is shooting FTs. The bottom two lane spaces "shall" be occupied by the defense. Considering this isn't possible with only one eligible player, does that mean every FT automatically carries a delayed violation and, thus, unlimited substitute FTs until all merited FTs are successful?

Sit down, have a drink, and discuss.