🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision

The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy

The glittering Golden Basketball Trophy has vanished from the display case right before the big game! The Phantom Dunker left a trail of shiny court prints. We must find the thief before the final buzzer sounds!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Signature Move	Lucky Gear	Shooting Hand	Headband Style	Tricky Defense
Dearron	Lightning Crossover	Glitter Clipboard	Right Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Giannis	Sky Hook	Glitter Clipboard	Left Handed	Blue Headband	Full Court Press
Draymond	Lightning Crossover	Squeaky Socks	Left Handed	Green Headband	Full Court Press
LaMelo	Lightning Crossover	Glitter Clipboard	Left Handed	Red Headband	Double Team
Ja	Tornado Spin	Golden Shoes	Right Handed	Blue Headband	Zone Defense
Trae	Sky Hook	Glitter Clipboard	Left Handed	Green Headband	Double Team
Klay	Tornado Spin	Glitter Clipboard	Right Handed	Red Headband	Full Court Press
Anthony	Mega Dunk	Golden Shoes	Left Handed	Blue Headband	Full Court Press
LeBron	No Look Pass	Squeaky Socks	Right Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Steph	Tornado Spin	Glitter Clipboard	Right Handed	Blue Headband	Zone Defense
Kevin	Mega Dunk	Silver Whistle	Left Handed	Red Headband	Double Team
Jayson	Sky Hook	Golden Shoes	Right Handed	Green Headband	Double Team
Zion	Tornado Spin	Squeaky Socks	Right Handed	Red Headband	Double Team
Bam	Sky Hook	Silver Whistle	Right Handed	Blue Headband	Double Team
Joel	Mega Dunk	Golden Shoes	Right Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Jimmy	No Look Pass	Silver Whistle	Right Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Kawhi	Mega Dunk	Neon Wristband	Right Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Devin	No Look Pass	Glitter Clipboard	Left Handed	Green Headband	Zone Defense
Nikola	Sky Hook	Silver Whistle	Right Handed	Green Headband	Double Team
Luka	Tornado Spin	Silver Whistle	Left Handed	Red Headband	Zone Defense
Kyrie	Tornado Spin	Silver Whistle	Right Handed	Green Headband	Double Team

Clue 1

Addition

Coach tallies the basketballs left in the storage bin to check for clues. To find who took the trophy we must add up the missing balls.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

6690

2510

5492

2812

7551

4276

2675

7551

3696

3718

9063

5492

3484

3696

9063

6690

8008

5492

2675

8440

3484

5391

4095

5492

2675

2277

4532

3484

9063

7320

2277

3484

2476 + 4214 =T

1452 + 2824 =L

1651 + 859 =H

2710 + 4841 =I

1225 + 1450 =A

1579 + 2953 =Y

1176 + 2542 =D

1968 + 844 =V

1241 + 2243 =S

6147 + 2916 =O

2150 + 1546 =N

2124 + 1971 =U

4303 + 4137 =R

3088 + 2303 =Q

4340 + 3668 =W

3287 + 4033 =C

2299 + 3193 =E

683 + 1594 =K

0/18 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The giant arena scoreboard took a big hit and now only shows rounded numbers. Round the fan count to reveal the next clue.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

1100

170

3700

7000

170

300

290

1100

200

130

1300

170

200

1100

430

1100

170

1100

170

3700

170

1100

170

300

290

9000

Round 1,054 to the nearest hundredT

Round 7,233 to the nearest thousandP

Round 17 to the nearest tenR

Round 89 to the nearest tenG

Round 429 to the nearest tenW

Round 126 to the nearest tenM

Round 170 to the nearest tenH

Round 205 to the nearest hundredO

Round 289 to the nearest tenN

Round 30 to the nearest tenI

Round 1,271 to the nearest hundredS

Round 9,072 to the nearest thousandD

Round 294 to the nearest hundredA

Round 3,663 to the nearest hundredE

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

The sneaky thief stole some sneakers from the gear bag. Subtract the remaining shoes to see how many were lost.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

5959

6035

1500

6271

6035

4416

4065

5959

6410

6613

5637

4416

2638

7690

1348

6410

3507

7494

1500

7786

7690

5349

3177

6410

4065

1500

7786

1500

1057

1500

4065

2638

1500

10860 - 4901 =T

9334 - 3985 =Y

6997 - 4359 =S

4898 - 1391 =C

11148 - 4877 =P

11476 - 3982 =K

2415 - 1358 =F

2955 - 1607 =L

8026 - 4849 =Z

5719 - 1303 =A

7959 - 1924 =H

8360 - 2723 =W

6791 - 381 =O

10741 - 4128 =M

10360 - 2670 =B

4094 - 29 =N

10879 - 3093 =D

1896 - 396 =E

0/18 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The team practices shooting drills in equal rows on the court. Multiply the drills by the baskets scored to find the clue.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

121

100

121

5 × 6 =W

6 × 4 =U

10 × 7 =E

3 × 1 =M

10 × 8 =N

11 × 4 =H

5 × 8 =G

1 × 7 =A

6 × 11 =B

7 × 5 =F

7 × 9 =O

11 × 11 =D

4 × 7 =I

4 × 9 =C

10 × 10 =R

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The players are sharing sports drinks after a hard workout. Divide the bottles evenly to uncover the final secret.

First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!

Step 1 — solve these

16 ÷ 4 = ?

54 ÷ 9 = ?

49 ÷ 7 = ?

48 ÷ 4 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

24 ÷ 8 = ?

8 ÷ 1 = ?

1 ÷ 1 = ?

50 ÷ 5 = ?

4 ÷ 2 = ?

36 ÷ 4 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain throws a sharp no look pass, then squeaks their squeaky socks.

2.The villain swishes a high sky hook, then snaps their neon wristband.

3.The villain executes a lightning crossover, then squeaks their squeaky socks.

4.The villain performs a wild mega dunk, then snaps their neon wristband.

5.The villain swishes a high sky hook, then squeaks their squeaky socks.

6.The villain executes a lightning crossover, then taps their glitter clipboard.

7.The villain throws a sharp no look pass, then blows their silver whistle.

8.The villain spins with a tornado move, then squeaks their squeaky socks.

9.The villain spins with a tornado move, then snaps their neon wristband.

10.The villain spins with a tornado move, then flashes their golden shoes.

11.The villain performs a wild mega dunk, then flashes their golden shoes.

12.The villain executes a lightning crossover, then snaps their neon wristband.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy

Culprit: Joel (Mega Dunk · Golden Shoes · Right Handed · Green Headband · Zone Defense)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR SQUEAKY SOCKS"
2476 + 4214 = 6690 (T) · 1452 + 2824 = 4276 (L) · 1651 + 859 = 2510 (H) · 2710 + 4841 = 7551 (I) · 1225 + 1450 = 2675 (A) · 1579 + 2953 = 4532 (Y) · 1176 + 2542 = 3718 (D) · 1968 + 844 = 2812 (V) · 1241 + 2243 = 3484 (S) · 6147 + 2916 = 9063 (O) · 2150 + 1546 = 3696 (N) · 2124 + 1971 = 4095 (U) · 4303 + 4137 = 8440 (R) · 3088 + 2303 = 5391 (Q) · 4340 + 3668 = 8008 (W) · 3287 + 4033 = 7320 (C) · 2299 + 3193 = 5492 (E) · 683 + 1594 = 2277 (K)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE PHANTOM SHOT WITH THE RIGHT HAND"
Round 1,054 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (T) · Round 7,233 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (P) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (R) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (G) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (W) · Round 126 to the nearest ten = 130 (M) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 205 to the nearest hundred = 200 (O) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (N) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 1,271 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (S) · Round 9,072 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D) · Round 294 to the nearest hundred = 300 (A) · Round 3,663 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE PHANTOM WAS BLOCKED BY ZONE DEFENSE"
10860 - 4901 = 5959 (T) · 9334 - 3985 = 5349 (Y) · 6997 - 4359 = 2638 (S) · 4898 - 1391 = 3507 (C) · 11148 - 4877 = 6271 (P) · 11476 - 3982 = 7494 (K) · 2415 - 1358 = 1057 (F) · 2955 - 1607 = 1348 (L) · 8026 - 4849 = 3177 (Z) · 5719 - 1303 = 4416 (A) · 7959 - 1924 = 6035 (H) · 8360 - 2723 = 5637 (W) · 6791 - 381 = 6410 (O) · 10741 - 4128 = 6613 (M) · 10360 - 2670 = 7690 (B) · 4094 - 29 = 4065 (N) · 10879 - 3093 = 7786 (D) · 1896 - 396 = 1500 (E)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND FABRIC FROM A GREEN HEADBAND"
5 × 6 = 30 (W) · 6 × 4 = 24 (U) · 10 × 7 = 70 (E) · 3 × 1 = 3 (M) · 10 × 8 = 80 (N) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 5 × 8 = 40 (G) · 1 × 7 = 7 (A) · 6 × 11 = 66 (B) · 7 × 5 = 35 (F) · 7 × 9 = 63 (O) · 11 × 11 = 121 (D) · 4 × 7 = 28 (I) · 4 × 9 = 36 (C) · 10 × 10 = 100 (R)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Joel
16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in The Grand Hoop Arena
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Cloud Kingdom Caper

Grade 4

The Wembley Trophy Mystery

Grade 4

The Great Zero-Gravity Trophy Heist

Grade 4

The Golden Monkey Mystery

Grade 4