San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Judson goals unchanged under Camacho
Christina Camacho has built two programs from scratch.
Her next challenge is different as she inherits a Judson Rockets team that has set the standard for girls basketball excellence in the area.
The Rockets have qualified for the Class 6A state semifinals the last five years, including the 201819 season in which they captured the title under Triva Corrales.
Corrales is now the Judson ISD athletic directo, and Camacho is the Rockets’ new coach after leading San Antonio Veterans Memorial for the last five seasons. Camacho started the programs at Veterans Memorial and Wagner, where he coached from 2005-16.
“It’s a lot different,” Camacho said. “The last two schools I’ve worked at, I’ve opened up, so I had to think about some things a little bit differently because of the program I was taking over.”
Camacho inherits a team that returns three starters and went 26-2, advancing to the 6A state semifinals last year.
Camacho is not exactly a stranger to the program. Corrales played for Camacho at Burbank and served as her assistant at Wagner. They have similar coaching styles, which has made the transition easier.
“It was hard with Coach Corrales leaving, but we get a perspective of the game with a different point of view,” said Rockets senior forward/center and Tulane-bound Amira Mabry. “I wouldn’t say there are many differences in the way things are being done. I’d say things are pretty similar and we’re the same team.”
Camacho is one of the most successful coaches in area history with 709 career victories over 33 seasons. She has also coached at Burbank and Holmes.
She started Veterans Memorial as a junior varsity program in 2016-17 and recorded an 11-2 record against varsity teams that season. The Patriots advanced to the 4A state championship game in 2018 in the program’s first varsity season. Veterans Memorial also advanced to the 5A title game in 2020.
Camacho posted 374 wins at Wagner as the Thunderbirds made five state-tournament appearances.
“Everyone knows this program is established and Triva did an awesome job here,” Camacho said. “I’ve tried to instill with the girls that we’re trying to get the same results and it’s going to be done in maybe a different form.”
Corrales coached Judson for 11 seasons, forging a 295-91 record. She is 373-182 overall, which includes six seasons at Burbank.
“I was in my feelings a little bit,” Judson senior guard Michaela Verrett said. “But (Corrales) had a better job opportunity and you really can’t be mad about that.”
Mabry, Verrett and junior forward Zaadiyah Stovall have played many high-stakes games for the Rockets. Camacho is relying on that trio to ensure a smooth transition, even allowing them to coach their position groups at times.
“We want to take their experience, especially from the last three years when they’ve gone to the state tournament, and let them take ownership of the team,” Camacho said. “Not to put me up there, but I know what I know what it takes to get there as well. So, I’m hoping to give them ownership and let us share our experience.”
Although Kierra Sanderlin, the 2020-21 Express-News Player of the Year, is now at Rutgers, the high expectations are still there for the Rockets.
“We know every day we have to play like we are going to play the biggest game of our lives,” said Mabry, a two-time member of the Express-News Super Team. “It’s a challenge and I like challenges.”
No matter who is in charge, the Judson name carries weight with opponents.
“This is a hard program to play in,” Stovall said. “I mean, we are in the hardest district in the city. We’ve been to state for the last five years and people are always going to try to beat us.”