🏀 BasketballGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Right before the final whistle of the big tournament, the golden championship trophy vanished from the display case! The culprit slipped away through the gym doors. It is up to you to decode the court-side evidence and find the thief before the 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 | Special Gear | Shooting Hand | Hair Color | Defensive Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul George | No-Look Spin Pass | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Right-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Full-Court Press |
| Russell Westbrook | Ankle-Breaking Crossover | Squeaky Golden Shoes | Right-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Loud Crowds Cheering |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Ankle-Breaking Crossover | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Damian Lillard | Unstoppable Skyhook | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Left-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Nikola Jokic | Unstoppable Skyhook | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Right-Handed Shooter | Frosty Blue Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Donovan Mitchell | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Left-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Full-Court Press |
| Kyrie Irving | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Neon Green Sleeve | Right-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Full-Court Press |
| Luka Doncic | Unstoppable Skyhook | Squeaky Golden Shoes | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Loud Crowds Cheering |
| Devin Booker | Ankle-Breaking Crossover | Shatterproof Goggles | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Jayson Tatum | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Shatterproof Goggles | Left-Handed Shooter | Frosty Blue Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Anthony Edwards | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Neon Green Sleeve | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Loud Crowds Cheering |
| Jimmy Butler | Ankle-Breaking Crossover | Polka-Dot Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Zion Williamson | Unstoppable Skyhook | Shatterproof Goggles | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Kevin Durant | No-Look Spin Pass | Glow-in-the-Dark Ball | Right-Handed Shooter | Frosty Blue Hair | Full-Court Press |
| Kawhi Leonard | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Polka-Dot Socks | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Ankle-Breaking Crossover | Neon Green Sleeve | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Loud Crowds Cheering |
| De'Aaron Fox | No-Look Spin Pass | Neon Green Sleeve | Left-Handed Shooter | Frosty Blue Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Polka-Dot Socks | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Full-Court Press |
| Bam Adebayo | Unstoppable Skyhook | Neon Green Sleeve | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
| LeBron James | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Squeaky Golden Shoes | Right-Handed Shooter | Jet Black Hair | Full-Court Press |
| James Harden | Gravity-Defying Slam Dunk | Polka-Dot Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Bright Crimson Hair | Double-Team Defense |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The arena manager has stacks of ball racks. To find the first clue hidden under a rack, count the total number of basketballs. Multiply the rows by the balls per row.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
99
3
121
45
54
121
63
12
30
81
35
77
77
63
35
54
10
84
121
45
54
84
T
99
44
45
121
T
99
3
121
27
77
84
80
14
63
77
77
9 × 11 =T
11 × 11 =E
9 × 7 =A
6 × 9 =N
10 × 3 =Y
11 × 4 =U
9 × 3 =G
1 × 10 =D
9 × 9 =V
7 × 5 =I
8 × 10 =W
5 × 9 =S
12 × 7 =O
12 × 1 =K
7 × 11 =L
3 × 1 =H
7 × 2 =B
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
A locker room whiteboard has a strategy layout. Only a fraction of the sketched plays are real. Solve the fraction of the total plays to reveal the lock code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
20
38
33
27
13
5
A
20
29
34
33
34
4
5
40
13
17
A
20
4
26
A
20
34
33
40
29
11
40
18
16
13
1/5 of 100 =A
1/2 of 76 =L
4/5 of 50 =O
1/8 of 88 =C
1/3 of 54 =U
1/2 of 32 =R
1/5 of 165 =E
5/10 of 10 =H
3/6 of 34 =W
2/8 of 108 =F
1/8 of 104 =T
2/4 of 68 =D
2/8 of 104 =M
2/6 of 12 =S
2/6 of 87 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The digital scoreboard is glitching out. Follow the correct order of operations with the scores to reset the board and unlock 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.
S
27
44
14
9
15
9
23
30
38
42
44
67
44
15
45
67
23
S
27
67
23
41
67
58
44
S
27
30
S
27
41
44
25
67
5 × 6 - 3 =S
5 × 12 - 2 =H
7 × 12 - 17 =T
10 × 5 - 20 =U
7 + 2 × 8 =O
2 + 2 × 6 =N
8 × 7 - 18 =B
9 × 7 - 18 =M
29 + 2 × 6 =P
5 × 2 - 1 =D
15 + 5 × 2 =C
24 + 9 × 2 =L
12 × 4 - 4 =E
2 × 8 - 1 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The fan attendance tracker shows a huge number, but the scanner only saves the nearest hundred. Round the ticket sales to find the active security feed.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
110
2900
7000
300
50
20
430
170
2900
430
3000
290
30
170
90
1100
170
290
20
430
90
290
1100
1100
3000
2900
3000
300
300
70
Round 113 to the nearest tenW
Round 280 to the nearest hundredO
Round 2,852 to the nearest hundredE
Round 90 to the nearest tenS
Round 434 to the nearest tenD
Round 1,099 to the nearest hundredT
Round 28 to the nearest tenI
Round 2,827 to the nearest thousandH
Round 73 to the nearest tenP
Round 294 to the nearest tenA
Round 166 to the nearest tenR
Round 22 to the nearest tenN
Round 6,908 to the nearest thousandF
Round 52 to the nearest tenU
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A big box of custom jerseys needs to be divided equally among the tournament teams. Work out the division to find the secret player roster.
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
56 ÷ 8 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain throws a crazy no-look spin pass, then flashes a neon green sleeve.
2.The villain throws a crazy no-look spin pass, then shows off their polka-dot socks.
3.The villain scores with an unstoppable skyhook, then flashes a neon green sleeve.
4.The villain executes a gravity-defying slam dunk, then bounces a glow-in-the-dark ball.
5.The villain scores with an unstoppable skyhook, then shows off their polka-dot socks.
6.The villain throws a crazy no-look spin pass, then bounces a glow-in-the-dark ball.
7.The villain performs an ankle-breaking crossover, then adjusts their shatterproof goggles.
8.The villain scores with an unstoppable skyhook, then squeaks off in golden shoes.
9.The villain scores with an unstoppable skyhook, then bounces a glow-in-the-dark ball.
10.The villain scores with an unstoppable skyhook, then adjusts their shatterproof goggles.
11.The villain executes a gravity-defying slam dunk, then shows off their polka-dot socks.
12.The villain executes a gravity-defying slam dunk, then squeaks off in golden shoes.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Zion Williamson (Unstoppable Skyhook · Shatterproof Goggles · Left-Handed Shooter · Bright Crimson Hair · Double-Team Defense)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE GLOW BALL"9 × 11 = 99 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (E) · 9 × 7 = 63 (A) · 6 × 9 = 54 (N) · 10 × 3 = 30 (Y) · 11 × 4 = 44 (U) · 9 × 3 = 27 (G) · 1 × 10 = 10 (D) · 9 × 9 = 81 (V) · 7 × 5 = 35 (I) · 8 × 10 = 80 (W) · 5 × 9 = 45 (S) · 12 × 7 = 84 (O) · 12 × 1 = 12 (K) · 7 × 11 = 77 (L) · 3 × 1 = 3 (H) · 7 × 2 = 14 (B)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "A LEFT HANDED SHOT WAS MADE ON COURT"1/5 of 100 = 20 (A) · 1/2 of 76 = 38 (L) · 4/5 of 50 = 40 (O) · 1/8 of 88 = 11 (C) · 1/3 of 54 = 18 (U) · 1/2 of 32 = 16 (R) · 1/5 of 165 = 33 (E) · 5/10 of 10 = 5 (H) · 3/6 of 34 = 17 (W) · 2/8 of 108 = 27 (F) · 1/8 of 104 = 13 (T) · 2/4 of 68 = 34 (D) · 2/8 of 104 = 26 (M) · 2/6 of 12 = 4 (S) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "SEND A DOUBLE TEAM TO STOP THE SUSPECT"5 × 6 - 3 = 27 (S) · 5 × 12 - 2 = 58 (H) · 7 × 12 - 17 = 67 (T) · 10 × 5 - 20 = 30 (U) · 7 + 2 × 8 = 23 (O) · 2 + 2 × 6 = 14 (N) · 8 × 7 - 18 = 38 (B) · 9 × 7 - 18 = 45 (M) · 29 + 2 × 6 = 41 (P) · 5 × 2 - 1 = 9 (D) · 15 + 5 × 2 = 25 (C) · 24 + 9 × 2 = 42 (L) · 12 × 4 - 4 = 44 (E) · 2 × 8 - 1 = 15 (A)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND RED HAIR STRANDS AT THE HOOP"Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (W) · Round 280 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 2,852 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (E) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (S) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (D) · Round 1,099 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (T) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 2,827 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (P) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (A) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (R) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 6,908 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Zion Williamson56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in The Grand Championship Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects