🏀 BasketballGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationWord problemsMulti-step word problemsPercentagesDivision
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Just hours before the state championship game, the legendary Golden Ball trophy went missing from the Hoopplex locker room! The culprit left a trail of chalk dust and squeaky sneaker tracks on the court. It is up to you to decode the clues, solve the math, and find the sneaky player who took it.
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 | On-Court Gear | Shooting Hand | Hairstyle | Defensive Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | Dunk | Wristband | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Paul George | Buzzerbeater | Wristband | Left-handed | Buzzcut | Fullcourt press |
| Stephen Curry | Buzzerbeater | High-tops | Right-handed | Afro | Fullcourt press |
| Nikola Jokic | No-look pass | High-tops | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Zone defense |
| Jimmy Butler | Dunk | Arm sleeve | Left-handed | Afro | Fullcourt press |
| Ja Morant | Dunk | Arm sleeve | Right-handed | Dreadlocks | Double team |
| Russell Westbrook | Dunk | Arm sleeve | Left-handed | Afro | Double team |
| Kevin Durant | Skyhook | Mouthguard | Left-handed | Afro | Fullcourt press |
| Kobe Bryant | Dunk | Headband | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Anthony Davis | Skyhook | Headband | Left-handed | Afro | Double team |
| Kyrie Irving | Buzzerbeater | Wristband | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Michael Jordan | Dunk | High-tops | Right-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Jaylen Brown | No-look pass | Arm sleeve | Left-handed | Afro | Zone defense |
| Trae Young | Skyhook | Mouthguard | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Jayson Tatum | No-look pass | Headband | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Fullcourt press |
| Chris Paul | Dunk | Mouthguard | Right-handed | Buzzcut | Zone defense |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Buzzerbeater | High-tops | Left-handed | Buzzcut | Zone defense |
| Damian Lillard | Buzzerbeater | Headband | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Zone defense |
| Devin Booker | No-look pass | Arm sleeve | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Zone defense |
| Kawhi Leonard | Crossover | Arm sleeve | Left-handed | Dreadlocks | Zone defense |
| James Harden | No-look pass | High-tops | Left-handed | Afro | Zone defense |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Coach Miller needs to audit the inventory room because some sneaky player swapped the labels on the ball racks.
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
90
60
24
99
80
132
132
28
80
27
88
48
24
100
27
48
T
90
35
24
28
108
28
120
48
25
T
90
60
55
25
28
108
88
9 × 10 =T
6 × 4 =E
10 × 8 =I
4 × 12 =O
11 × 8 =D
12 × 9 =R
3 × 9 =N
5 × 11 =G
12 × 10 =M
5 × 7 =W
7 × 4 =A
11 × 12 =L
10 × 10 =S
5 × 5 =U
11 × 9 =V
6 × 10 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
To unlock the high-tech sneaker locker, we need to calculate the total studs on the new shoe shipment across several identical crates.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
27
19
34
10
98
82
105
D
19
D
Coach Miller lined up 3 rows of 9 jerseys. How many jerseys in all?L
Coach Miller lined up 5 rows of 2 jerseys. How many jerseys in all?T
Coach Miller found 3 water bottles yesterday and 95 more today. How many water bottles in all?H
There were 29 whistles. 10 were used up. How many whistles are left?E
There were 66 basketballs. 32 were used up. How many basketballs are left?F
Coach Miller found 79 sneakers yesterday and 3 more today. How many sneakers in all?A
Coach Miller found 7 whistles yesterday and 98 more today. How many whistles in all?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
A strange receipt shows a player buying several jerseys and returning some old shorts, leaving a weird balance on the team card.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
F
37
79
71
71
18
82
79
81
62
P
81
E
S
S
Coach Miller earned 7 sneakers in each of 4 rounds, plus 22 bonus sneakers. Then 13 sneakers were lost. How many sneakers are left?F
There were 481 sneakers in all. 7 sneakers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The All-Stars. How many sneakers did each get?U
There were 502 water bottles in all. 4 The All-Stars used 19 water bottles each. The other 6 The All-Stars shared the rest equally. How many water bottles did each of the other The All-Stars get?L
Coach Miller earned 4 basketballs in each of 4 rounds, plus 8 bonus basketballs. Then 6 basketballs were lost. How many basketballs are left?C
Coach Miller collected 17 water bottles in the morning and 293 water bottles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The All-Stars. How many water bottles did each get?T
There were 519 basketballs in all. 3 The All-Stars used 9 basketballs each. The other 6 The All-Stars shared the rest equally. How many basketballs did each of the other The All-Stars get?O
There were 834 sneakers in all. 24 sneakers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The All-Stars. How many sneakers did each get?R
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Percentages
The arena scoreboard is acting up, only displaying the shooting percentages of the team's top players instead of their total points.
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
6
21
31
39
16
43
11
16
19
19
31
35
T
6
2
31
21
13
43
11
11
34
31
16
11
19
28
7
8
41
21
16
13
34
10% of 60 =T
50% of 32 =A
25% of 124 =E
5% of 220 =D
10% of 410 =S
50% of 70 =F
5% of 420 =H
20% of 40 =K
20% of 195 =V
20% of 170 =R
5% of 260 =I
25% of 112 =O
5% of 380 =L
20% of 10 =B
20% of 35 =C
50% of 86 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To find which locker contains the stolen playbook, we must divide the total team practice bibs equally among the five starting squads.
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
44 ÷ 4 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain slams a dunk, then wipes a wristband.
2.The villain hits a buzzerbeater, then adjusts some high-tops.
3.The villain sinks a skyhook, then tugs an arm sleeve.
4.The villain slams a dunk, then adjusts some high-tops.
5.The villain throws a no-look pass, then pulls up a headband.
6.The villain sinks a skyhook, then wipes a wristband.
7.The villain slams a dunk, then pulls up a headband.
8.The villain hits a buzzerbeater, then bites a mouthguard.
9.The villain performs a crossover, then tugs an arm sleeve.
10.The villain sinks a skyhook, then pulls up a headband.
11.The villain hits a buzzerbeater, then wipes a wristband.
12.The villain hits a buzzerbeater, then tugs an arm sleeve.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Jayson Tatum (No-look pass · Headband · Left-handed · Dreadlocks · Fullcourt press)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A MOUTHGUARD"9 × 10 = 90 (T) · 6 × 4 = 24 (E) · 10 × 8 = 80 (I) · 4 × 12 = 48 (O) · 11 × 8 = 88 (D) · 12 × 9 = 108 (R) · 3 × 9 = 27 (N) · 5 × 11 = 55 (G) · 12 × 10 = 120 (M) · 5 × 7 = 35 (W) · 7 × 4 = 28 (A) · 11 × 12 = 132 (L) · 10 × 10 = 100 (S) · 5 × 5 = 25 (U) · 11 × 9 = 99 (V) · 6 × 10 = 60 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Coach Miller lined up 3 rows of 9 jerseys. How many jerseys in all? = 27 (L) · Coach Miller lined up 5 rows of 2 jerseys. How many jerseys in all? = 10 (T) · Coach Miller found 3 water bottles yesterday and 95 more today. How many water bottles in all? = 98 (H) · There were 29 whistles. 10 were used up. How many whistles are left? = 19 (E) · There were 66 basketballs. 32 were used up. How many basketballs are left? = 34 (F) · Coach Miller found 79 sneakers yesterday and 3 more today. How many sneakers in all? = 82 (A) · Coach Miller found 7 whistles yesterday and 98 more today. How many whistles in all? = 105 (N)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "FULLCOURT PRESS"Coach Miller earned 7 sneakers in each of 4 rounds, plus 22 bonus sneakers. Then 13 sneakers were lost. How many sneakers are left? = 37 (F) · There were 481 sneakers in all. 7 sneakers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The All-Stars. How many sneakers did each get? = 79 (U) · There were 502 water bottles in all. 4 The All-Stars used 19 water bottles each. The other 6 The All-Stars shared the rest equally. How many water bottles did each of the other The All-Stars get? = 71 (L) · Coach Miller earned 4 basketballs in each of 4 rounds, plus 8 bonus basketballs. Then 6 basketballs were lost. How many basketballs are left? = 18 (C) · Coach Miller collected 17 water bottles in the morning and 293 water bottles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The All-Stars. How many water bottles did each get? = 62 (T) · There were 519 basketballs in all. 3 The All-Stars used 9 basketballs each. The other 6 The All-Stars shared the rest equally. How many basketballs did each of the other The All-Stars get? = 82 (O) · There were 834 sneakers in all. 24 sneakers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The All-Stars. How many sneakers did each get? = 81 (R)
- Clue 4 (Percentages): "THE VANDAL LEFT BEHIND DREADLOCKS HAIR"10% of 60 = 6 (T) · 50% of 32 = 16 (A) · 25% of 124 = 31 (E) · 5% of 220 = 11 (D) · 10% of 410 = 41 (S) · 50% of 70 = 35 (F) · 5% of 420 = 21 (H) · 20% of 40 = 8 (K) · 20% of 195 = 39 (V) · 20% of 170 = 34 (R) · 5% of 260 = 13 (I) · 25% of 112 = 28 (O) · 5% of 380 = 19 (L) · 20% of 10 = 2 (B) · 20% of 35 = 7 (C) · 50% of 86 = 43 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Jayson Tatum44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Percentages, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in The Hoopplex Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects