High school rule: player entitled to his space on the floor

[Raymond]

Facebook discussion. I referenced this, which was last posted here in 2018:

NFHS 4-23-1: Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent.

10.6.1 SITUATION E: B1 attempts to steal the ball from stationary A1 who is holding the ball. B1 misses the ball and falls to the floor. In dribbling away, A1 contacts B1's leg, loses control of the ball and falls to the floor. RULING: No infraction or foul has occurred and play continues. Unless B1 made an effort to trip or block A1, he/she is entitled to a position on the court even if it is momentarily lying on the floor after falling down.

Apparently that case play no longer exists.

So now that it's gone, what is the justification that this player is in a legal guarding position if contact occurs with a ball-handler?

My problem with this case play has always been that a player lying down on the court is no longer within his natural cylinder. It is akin, to me, to a player having his leg spread way apart.

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