Bill Stokes

[cmckenna]

More from the AP Newswire.... I hope he comes out OK...

HOUSTON (AP) -- Referee Bill Stokes was in critical but stable condition after he collapsed during a WNBA playoff game between the Houston Comets and Utah Starzz.

Medical officials rushed to Stokes side after he fell to the floor near the scorer's table with 15:33 left in the first round playoff game on Tuesday night. He was removed on a stretcher and the game resumed 25 minutes later.

The somber crowd of 9,540 said the Lord's Prayer in unison before play resumed.

WNBA president Val Ackerman left the game and went to the hospital.

``He's a dear friend of mine and he's been a referee as long as I've been a coach,'' Utah coach Candi Harvey said. ``What a first-class organization this team and their fans are.''

The game resumed after a 25-minute delay with Lisa Mattingly and Roy Gulbeyan officiating without Stokes. Both officials declined to comment after the game, which was won by Utah 75-72 to win the best-of-three Western Conference semifinal series.

``That decision was made by the WNBA,'' Comets coach Van Chancellor said. ``They just told me we were going to play in five minutes.

``At that time, he was stable and breathing on his own. Sure, I think the league is going to get criticized but I didn't see any other solution. It was just a tough loss any way you slice it. It was a tough night for us, tough night for him.''

A hush fell over the crowd of 9,540 at Compaq Center when Stokes fell beside the scorer's table.

``It was pretty difficult,'' Sheryl Swoopes said. ``The hardest part is staying focused and getting back out there and getting in the game but we can't make excuses, because Utah kept their concentration and composure. It could have easily been any one of us.''

Stokes, an official for more than 25 years, has also worked numerous women's conference and NCAA tournament games.

On April 1, 1996, the opening day of the baseball season, plate umpire John McSherry had a heart attack and collapsed on the field during a game at Cincinnati. McSherry, 51, died hours later.