DOG under 5 seconds left

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I agree with you in practice, but the interpretation says otherwise. There is a difference between interfering with ball and interfering with the thrower.

What more could a player do to interfere with the ball than punch it into the stands? That's where the casebook says we can ignore the action if the only purpose is to stop the clock.

As others correctly point out, it does appear there were more than 5 seconds on the clock, but I don't start a count until the ball is at the player's disposal. Give him a second or two to gather the ball and 5 seconds to release it (high and far) -- and the game is over before the ball comes down from the rafters.