Another Pittsburgh Keystones season has ended, earlier than we would have liked. For the second year in a row, the Keystones were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Albany Alphas.

This sketchpage is my gift to the people who make the Keystones in particular and the FBA in general so great – the contributors and creators who bring life to this doofy little universe of animal-head-people playing basketball.

Art by  Pac

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First in the upper left is Keystones’ General Manager Mark Sennacherib Quintaux, the equine mastermind behind the rise of the onetime basement dweller franchise. Quintaux is 1/2 Percheron, 3/8 Friesian, and 1/8 ???. Like most domestic horses, he is particular about breeding, but is unusually cagey about his dam’s dam’s sire. Among his other interests, he is part owner in a vineyard.

Next, the Head Coach who has made the success a reality, Anton K. Schumacher (Eurasian Lynx), a no-nonsense strategist beyond compare.

Beside him is the Keystones’ Executive Director of Public Relations Department International Social Media Integration Division Riley Goodenough. This enthusiastic Brown Dorcopsis can’t play worth a rotten fig, but he loves the sport, and loves sharing his love of the sport. He pestered Mr. Quintaux to get a social media campaign for the franchise up and running for ages before the boss agreed just to shut him up. Then, to keep the young marsupial busy, Quintaux put him in charge of the whole operation. E.D.P.R.D.I.S.M.I.D. Goodenough runs the Keystones Twitter account (at)KeystonesFBA

Ah, rookie hazing. Terrick Chomske (Secretary Bird, C/F) is a secretary bird, so prankster Ron Williamson (Skunk, F) gave him an office. No one knows how he managed to run a landline all the way to his locker.

It’s not all fun and games; pro basketball is a serious pursuit. Veteran Randy Catcher (Bullfrog, G) offers pointers and mentoring to rookie Erik Kijani (Leopard, G).

Lance Freewell (Clouded Leopard, C) shows off his championship ring (won in 2007 when Freewell played for the Newark Pride) to a fascinated Alan Murphy (Kangaroo, F). Murphy has been with the franchise since they were known as the Springfield Fusion. Long a fan favorite, the kangaroo’s luster has begun to fade as the new generation shines.

Well, he’s an MVP in our hearts. Now having completed three seasons with the Keystones, Terrence Tolliver (Pronghorn, G), the 40-Point Pronghorn, is the young Pennsylvania-born phenom at the heart of the franchise’s rapid rise.

Rookie Saga Ström (Howler Monkey, F/G) lives in Pittsburgh with her he’s-not-my-boyfriend Axe Okkonen (Dragon). After this stunt on the Jumbotron at the February 14 home game, Axe was banished to the couch. Still worth it.

Shirley Takamoto (Jaguar, F/G) the dancing jaguar gets pumped before a game.

Brandon Dreyvus (Opossum, F) shares a story with the team’s other opossum, Aisha “Death Roll” Card (Opossum, G).

Hello Kitty enthusiast Sonja Tinker (Skunk, F/C) is fond of improving her teammates’ moods with the gift of stickers. Oddly, Wayne Kirkpatrick (Tasmanian Devil, F)’s mood does not seem improved with her additions to his little black book. What a silly billy.

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Art by  Pac
Mark S. Quintaux and Riley Goodenough belong to  Kinto_Mythostian
Anton K. Schumacher belongs to  anonymous13423
Terrick Chomske belongs to  gldnclaw
Ron Williamson belongs to  Nightfirex
Randy Catcher created by  BuckHopper
Erik Kijani belongs to  Wolfnumber9
Lance Freewell belongs to  Darren_Zeraus
Alan Murphy belongs to Glen Skunk
Terrence Tolliver belongs to  Kyell
Saga Ström and Axe Okkonen belong to  nasuella
Shirley Takamoto belongs to  sam-gwosdz
Brandon Dreyvus belongs to  Qovapryi (more or less)
Aisha Card belongs to  Rehgan
Sonja Tinker belongs to  Mongoose_Ink
Wayne Kirkpatrick belongs to  ShaneRufus

If any character owners would like the fullsize version of their sketch, send me a note. :)

The Pittsburgh Keystones are a team in the FBA, a collaborative project created by  BuckHopper currently helmed by  StevieMaxwell and built by contributions from countless others.

For more about the FBA please visit  FurryBasketball or https://www.furrybasketball.com