Looking for some common sense interpretation of closely guarded. IMO its generic in rule book.

JV tourney finals this afternoon. Close game - Team ahead milking a little clock. Coach of down team called players out to challenge them.

We counted when Def was wiithin 6 feet and Offense was standing - or tied up. Started over when Off began a dribble or vice versa.

What upset the coach was that when Offense would be "under a count" and then DRIVE to the lane or basket in a controlled move - we stopped the count. The defense stayed with them but the ball was moving.

Coach's reasoning was that no player could keep the ball on a dribble under any circumstances for more than 5 seconds - with a player within 6 feet.

Did I miss something?

Yup, as long as the defender maintains LGP on the dribbler, you keep the 5-second count going on the drive right to the basket. You only terminate the count if the dribbler beats the defender by getting his head and shoulders past the defender. That ends the LGP of the defender.

The coach's reasoning was accurate for most situations. Take a look at #1 of this year's POE's at the back of the book. It's all about closely guarded situations.