Documentary recaps San Juan basketball race to a championship

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
A documentary of the San Juan High School boys basketball team’s state championship season premiered on July 3 in the San Juan Theater in Blanding during Fourth of July celebrations.
The full-length feature, entitled “Pressure Is a Privilege” and produced by Picture It Palmer, follows the Broncos throughout the 2021-22 season and details the ups, downs, struggles, and victories the boys endured on the way to their first state title in 30 years.
“Pressure Is a Privilege” was the team motto for the season. Those who followed the team don’t need to be told it was an exciting and emotional year for players, coaches, and fans alike.
2021-22 Bronco Head Coach Travis Black and assistant coach BJ Grover played for San Juan the last time the basketball team won it all in the spring of 1992.
Both men have sons who enjoyed the game at a young age so they decided to start and coach a club team when the boys were in third grade.
As that group of boys reached high school age the opportunity opened up for Black and Grover to coach the high school team together.
Just three months before the opening game of the season the team lost assistant coach Taylor Black when he passed away unexpectedly.
Taylor’s son, senior Jayden Black, overcame that loss to play a huge role in the team’s state title run, including his winning free throw in the waning seconds of the championship game.
The Broncos were ranked #1 in Utah 2A basketball to begin the year. “Can they hold on to the top spot?” the documentary asks. “Can they climb the mountain and take the state title?”
Even if you already know the answers, it’s still exciting to watch. The “Pressure Is a Privilege” documentary is available to rent or purchase online. Visit PictureItPalmer.com/Movies for full details.