no bench

[Ralph Stubenthal]

I was watching my son's JV game tonight and they were playing a small school which had only 5 boys on the team--no bench. None of the 5 boys got in foul trouble but in the 4th quarter, one of the boys was fouled and lay on the floor hurt. The coach was called in and in a minute or so the player was up and fine. He proceeded to the line and shot his free throws and stayed in the game. Was this correct procedure? I realize that if there had been substitute players on the bench that he should have been subbed out and the sub would shoot the free throws. Should he have been subbed out anyway and play resumed with 4 on the floor until the next substitution time? This would seen unlikely and unsportsmanlike and would have been hard to sell to the coaches and the fans alike. I know that there is a rule somewhere that says you have to play 5 if you have them. What's the correct call. (I'm glad I wasn't calling the game and didn't have to make that decision.)