Correct backcourt call?

[ranjo]

This is what happened in a V-Boys scrimmage yesterday.

After a made basket, Blue inbounds and is advancing the ball from backcourt toward frontcourt under defensive pressure. Blue 1 passes to Blue 2 who dribbles toward the division line, is trapped by two red players, and picks up the ball with one foot in frontcourt and the other in the air. He then passes back to Blue 3 who is airborn from backcourt to front court. I call a backcourt violation, the justification being Blue 2 established himself front court when he picked up the ball with one foot frontcourt and the other in the air.

Both partners disagreed with my call saying Blue 2 had not established himself in front court because he needed to have both feet frontcourt first.

I told them I agreed if he was dribbling, but not if he was holding the ball.

Anyone got an older casebook play that addresses this specific situation?