What would you have done?

[OHBBREF]

I don't know if you're IAABO or not but our mechanics book says:
All situations that involve counting, except the 3 second rule require the official to display a visual count.

I understand what you are saying about a count being visual. i believe that the reference would be to an official count (closely guarded, backcourt, inbound) but I do not see anyone giving you grief for a non visual count on the clock if you are having operator problems.

Example:

let us take a situation with only 3 seconds on the clock the ball is inbounded and a baseball pass (you notice the clock not running) caught in the lane and a try goes up and a miss, a rebound, a miss, a rebound, and a stick back goes in. You look up and the clock says 3 seconds?

What do you do?