FOXBURG — Ellie Thompson had a knot in her gut shortly after her high school basketball career ended.

It was a strange sensation, as if it wasn't real, as if there would be another game to play at some other time in the future.

Only she didn't have a team to play for.

For four years she excelled on the hardwood for the A-C Valley girls basketball team, scoring more than 1,000 career points and helping the Falcons this winter to their first PIAA tournament victory in school history.

But it was over.

Like that. In the time it took for a shot to rim out, her career was seemingly done.

“I didn't like that feeling,” Thompson said. “I felt like I had more to give.”

And so did Mansfield University head women's basketball coach Mike Whitling.

The Keystone graduate, who will be heading into his third season, recruited Thompson heavily.

Thompson was finally sold because of Mansfield's nursing program.

“That's why I was on the fence,” Thompson said. “I was worried about the time with my major, but the coaching staff — I really like (Whitling), he's very supportive — and the girls on the team made me feel like it was right.”

Thompson hopes to make an impact on a team that is coming off an 8-21 record and a 6-16 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Despite the record, the Mountaineers qualified for the PSAC tournament and fell in the first round to Millersville.

Just where Thompson will try to make that impact is an unknown.

Thompson showed off her eclectic skills as a senior this winter. The 5-foot-8 forward averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.

She was just as dangerous handling the ball and slashing to the hoop as she was in the post.

“A couple of years ago, all I could do was go down low,” Thompson said. “I kind of felt like I had to expand my skills to be a better player for my team. I didn't want to be a one-trick pony.”

A-C Valley coach Dave Sherman said he tailored his offense around Thompson's diverse skill set, this season in particular.

It worked.

Thompson was a major force and one of the reasons why the Falcons went 21-7, including a PIAA Class A playoff win over Sewickley Academy in which she scored a game-high 25 points.

“She works hard at everything she does,” said A-C Valley coach Dave Sherman. “Her work ethic, as well as just being physically gifted, is a big thing for her.”

Thompson plans to work even harder ahead of joining the Mansfield program.

A track athlete for three years at A-C Valley, Thompson decided not to participate this spring to spend more time improving her basketball skills.

“Sometimes I miss it,” she said. “But I can be in the gym four or five nights a week.”

Thompson is also a standout golfer for the Falcons. In the fall, she qualified for the PIAA Girls' Golf Championships.

It's no wonder then that she was being recruited by colleges in all three sports.

“It's nice,” Thompson said, chuckling at the notion of being recruited in three sports and displaying her modesty. “I don't know. It's really crazy to think about it.”

Sherman said that typifies the type of person Thompson is.

“Most good athletes have that humble streak,” Sherman said. “She doesn't take enough credit. She worked her tail off her whole career.”

Thompson was also recruited for basketball by other Division II schools in the PSAC, Gannon University and Slippery Rock Unversity, and a slew of Division III schools.

It was never about status for Thompson. It was always about getting an education — and getting rid of that lump in her gut that told her she had more basketball left inside her.

“I always thought she had the ability to play at the next level,” Sherman said. “It didn't really materialize right away. We went to a few summer things and she turned some heads. There was a lot of notice taken.

“I'm really happy for her,” Sherman added. “This didn't fall in her lap. Her end goal was to be the best player she could be and I think this can be a example to others.”