Mandi Boykin loves track, but she loves two things even more. Her mother, Jami, is first followed by basketball.

Boykin will continue loving her mom, but she will replace track with basketball this fall.

The former Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 100-meter dash state champion has spent the past two seasons running track for the University of Cincinnati. That all changes this fall after she transferred to Georgetown (Ky.) College to play basketball for the Lady Tigers.

“I love track, but that part of my life is over,” said Boykin. “I’m looking forward to playing (at Georgetown). I already know the girls and we get along well.”

Boykin will be reunited with her high school teammate Jessica Waddle who played at Georgetown last season. Both girls still have three years of eligibility and are the two fastest players on the team.

With Boykin at point guard, look for Georgetown to switch to a running team.

“I’ve practiced with them and all we did was run,” said Boykin.

New Central Park

With all the controversy over building a school bus garage on the old Central School site, here’s an idea that might work better for everyone.

Why not tear down Central School and make it a nice fenced neighborhood park with basketball and tennis courts, children’s swing sets and slides plus some picnic tables. Name it Central Park after the old school.

The new park would be better policed by the neighbors and the additional traffic going up and down the streets.

Build the bus garage at the old Beechwood Park where there are streets coming into the area from two or three directions. At least it would be on school property, which is what many people believe the original plans called for and was voted on by Ironton residents.

Hughes at Portsmouth

After Ironton passed on Amy Hughes for the assistant principal’s job, the former Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ basketball coach accepted a similar position at Portsmouth.

However, don’t look for Hughes to be coaching. Portsmouth’s school board has a policy that doesn’t allow administrators to coach.

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.