NFHS closely guarded rule

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Originally Posted by truerookie

My point I was attempting to get across (which may not have been done clearly) is. I don't believe the rule intent is for the count to be discontinued just because the ball handler who is moving laterally and gets his/her head and shoulder past the defender without movement towards the endline.

We all got your point, you were crystal. You want to add movement toward the basket to the closely guarded requirements.
The rules just say path not any particular direction of the path...