St. Anthony High School came into existence in 1912-13 with six freshmen and two sophomores. It remained a two-year high school until 1921-22 when another year was added. The 4th year was added in 1926-27. St. Anthony played its first basketball games in 1931-32.

In 1933-34, the Saints competed in their first Catholic High School State Tournament in Jacksonville. In 1940-41, when Lenny Dust was the boys’ coach, the “Saints” became the “Bulldogs”. In 1942-43 St. Anthony became a state recognized school, and the following year designated as an accredited high school by the University of Illinois. In 1946-47, St. Anthony became a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

In the 30’s and early 40’s, they played their home games in the old parish hall, which was later torn down to make room for the new gymnasium. In the mid 30’s, a few home games were played in a gym in LaClede, Illinois, for reasons unknown. The gym in LaClede was a real “cracker box” with the court being 15’ x 40’ with 13’ ceilings. In the 40’s and especially while the new gym was being constructed, St. Anthony accepted invitations to practice and play home games at Central Grade School at 5th and Fayette, as well as T-Town High School.

In 1947-48, the first athletic director was appointed, Father Leonard Rathgeb. In 1949-50, the first full time paid coach was hired, Mr. Harry Forrester. That year also marked the first year in the new gymnasium, Memorial Gym, named in memory of those that lost their lives in the tragic St. Anthony Hospital Fire of 1949. Memorial Gymnasium was constructed at a cost of $240,000. In 1950-51, St. Anthony joined the National Trail Conference after only one year in the Midland Trail Conference. In 1957, St. Anthony became the second school in the nation to install a scoreboard that showed points scored for each player. This scoreboard has since been replaced because of the high cost of maintenance and lack of replacement parts. It was the second one purchased and second last of its kind in existence in the world, the other being in South America.

St. Anthony basketball and the gymnasium upkeep, as well as all sports activities and maintenance of their related facilities, are supported almost entirely by the St. Anthony Booster Club. The Boosters Club was founded in 1953 under the direction of Fr. Peter Mascari. This club is very active in many fund raising activities as well as managing season ticket sales and maintaining club memberships.

In 1996, St. Anthony embarked on a long-range planning process, which included plans for a full renovation of the parish church, a new parish center to be connected to the church and completion of Fr. Goff’s dream of phase 2 at St. Anthony High School. In 1997 the parish completed the church renovation at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. In 2000, the parish completed the new parish center at a cost of $1.2 million and in 2002, the $5.6 million high school addition project began.