Roberts Gym is a crown jewel in the St. Louis basketball scene.
The gym’s balcony wraps two sides of the court, featuring green chairbacks dating to the opening of the gym.
It has witnessed six Webster Groves state championship teams, the first in 1996 and the latest in 2025.
Constructed in 1946, its namesake, Charlie Roberts, coached at Webster Groves for 39 years but never saw the gym open, passing in 1944, according to an article by David Kvidhal in Ladue News.
Steel originally allotted for gym construction was reallocated for use in World War II.
The gym was dedicated on Dec. 8, 1946. The first basketball game was held Dec. 12 against Maplewood-Richmond Heights, who allowed Webster Groves to practice in its gym during Roberts’ construction, according to Ladue News. The Blue Devils took home Roberts Gym’s first win.
An auxiliary gym and hall of fame was built during a 2009 renovation.
Pete Scribner, who runs a Webster fan account on X, remembers watching his uncle play at Roberts.
“Loved watching from the balcony behind the basket,” he said. “Was a dream come true to play on the same court when I reached WGHS.
“I wasn’t near as good, but I loved it.”
Scribner’s coach and current Maplewood-Richmond Heights boys basketball coach Joe Sausele coached at Webster in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Some of the best players to play in that gym for Webster Groves from 1980-2000 (include) AJ White, Sam Ivy, Chris Ogden, Paul and Joey King, Steve Snyder, Jerome Chambers, Thomas Roberts, Myron Gordon, Travis Snelling, Johnny Parker and Tate Decker,” he said.
But his favorite memory as a coach is when Joey Keane hit a buzzer beater Jan. 9, 1990, to top Parkway West.
Earl Austin Jr. wrote in the next day’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Keane, who is 6-foot-3, took the inbounds pass on the left wing and dribbled to the free-throw line, where he lofted a soft jumper over the outstretched arm of West’s 6-4 Scott Highmark. The ball swished through with 2 seconds left.”
Keane told Austin: “I took the ball in jumped as high as I could. I had all my emotions in it. I felt like I was jumping out (of) the gym.”
Favorite Part: My Grandparents dedicated seats courtesy of my Best Friend Kevin & Coach Blossom. My grandpa also happens to be a Douglass High graduate ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/hguRZ4qwPr
My favorite memory, was matching my nephew, @_OfficialCJ__ play against Vianney in the District Semifinals. I was in absolute awe watching him play with his heart and soul on the court of Robert's Gym fighting tooth and nail to keep us in the game. It was amazing!
My memories are a little more recent but I loved watching my 6th Grde dgtr play next level games there & we always dreamed of the future….ff to now, she's a jr, in her third year starting, 2nd year captain, hitting big shots & leaving it all on that same floor. Avvvaaaa Vanecek
Michael Gulledge is a photojournalist and journalist based in the St. Louis area. He often strings photos for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @mgphoto314.
