🏀 Basketball, MinecraftGrade 9Reading: grades 7-9Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers
The Netherite Hoop Heist
The championship game at the Square Garden is ruined! A rogue player used illegal mods, bypassed the court security, and stole the golden Netherite basketball. The Referee needs your help to decode the block coordinates and catch the thief.
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 | Loot Mod | Potion Effect | Shooting Hand | Helmet Style | Exploit Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durantite | slime block bounce | night vision | right handed shooter | iron crown helmet | redstone signal |
| Ja Morantite | ender pearl teleport | night vision | left handed shooter | gold wing headband | redstone signal |
| Joel Emblock | creeper blast dunk | water breathing | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Steve Curry | fire charge shot | health boost | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | splash water bottle |
| LeBron Block | ender pearl teleport | health boost | left handed shooter | diamond visor | glowstone dust |
| LaMelo Baller | slime block bounce | fire resistance | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Shai Redstone | slime block bounce | slow falling | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Devin Booker | creeper blast dunk | fire resistance | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | redstone signal |
| Trae Young | speed potion sprint | slow falling | right handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Jimmy Obsidian | creeper blast dunk | night vision | right handed shooter | diamond visor | glowstone dust |
| Luka Craftic | fire charge shot | water breathing | right handed shooter | diamond visor | glowstone dust |
| Jayson Tatum | fire charge shot | health boost | right handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Zion Bedrock | creeper blast dunk | night vision | left handed shooter | gold wing headband | redstone signal |
| Giannis Anteto | ender pearl teleport | slow falling | right handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Nikola Jokraft | speed potion sprint | night vision | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Kobe Ender | speed potion sprint | water breathing | right handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| James Hardwood | slime block bounce | slow falling | left handed shooter | diamond visor | glowstone dust |
| Alex Jordan | creeper blast dunk | slow falling | left handed shooter | iron crown helmet | glowstone dust |
| Giannis Enderton | ender pearl teleport | slow falling | left handed shooter | gold wing headband | glowstone dust |
| Kyrie Ender | slime block bounce | night vision | left handed shooter | gold wing headband | redstone signal |
| Luka Doncic | ender pearl teleport | night vision | left handed shooter | gold wing headband | splash water bottle |
Clue 1
Two-step equations
Coach Notch needs to balance the team inventory. Solve this equation to find how many iron ingots are left in the storage chests.
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
15
21
20
8
19
8
4
20
12
T
15
16
3
20
8
18
3
T
15
19
8
20
6
9
T
15
20
17
10
17
20
9
T
15
21
14
18
22
2x + 10 = 40, x =T
7x + 3 = 87, x =C
3x + 1 = 55, x =N
8x + 2 = 138, x =R
3x + 11 = 41, x =B
7x + 4 = 67, x =A
7x + 5 = 145, x =E
8x + 6 = 70, x =S
9x + 9 = 36, x =O
5x + 5 = 115, x =G
8x + 9 = 57, x =W
6x + 4 = 118, x =U
2x + 1 = 9, x =P
9x + 4 = 193, x =H
8x + 1 = 113, x =I
3x + 2 = 50, x =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Exponents
The court defense grid is powered by redstone blocks laid out in a square. Calculate the exponential power level of this core generator.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
243
27
64
49
4
196
324
625
27
625
441
4
361
361
49
27
169
441
16
121
324
27
625
49
4
27
441
8
361
169
27
289
361
196
169
625
3^5 =L
3^3 =E
5^4 =D
17^2 =B
11^2 =G
21^2 =S
2^6 =F
4^2 =I
2^2 =H
18^2 =N
19^2 =O
14^2 =A
13^2 =R
2^3 =C
7^2 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
The arena floor is made of perfectly square obsidian plots. Find the side length of this VIP seating grid by taking the square root.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
15
4
23
20
22
5
23
21
8
24
14
22
5
9
8
6
8
19
4
8
24
5
13
8
13
16
24
24
8
21
22
21
8
19
10
sqrt(225) =G
sqrt(441) =N
sqrt(64) =E
sqrt(36) =V
sqrt(256) =I
sqrt(16) =L
sqrt(400) =W
sqrt(81) =R
sqrt(196) =U
sqrt(25) =T
sqrt(576) =D
sqrt(169) =H
sqrt(361) =A
sqrt(529) =O
sqrt(100) =K
sqrt(484) =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Integers
The game score keeps fluctuating as players lose points for fouls and gain points for dunks. Track these negative and positive changes.
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
7
22
1
20
10
S
7
38
26
1
6
15
20
38
6
5
20
38
40
6
22
21
28
34
21
33
40
21
20
21
26
38
9
6
10
(-10) + 17 =S
27 - (-6) =T
27 - (-1) =L
(-11) + 45 =M
(-15) + 21 =N
(-4) + 14 =D
(-2) + 24 =H
34 - (-6) =W
(-15) + 53 =O
(-9) + 18 =U
14 - (-1) =I
(-9) + 10 =A
(-6) + 27 =E
1 - (-4) =C
(-7) + 27 =R
20 - (-6) =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
To unlock the secure gear locker, the referee must solve this lock code based on the weight of gold blocks and chest plates.
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
5x + 10 = 25, x = ?
4x + 1 = 9, x = ?
3x + 5 = 41, x = ?
7x + 7 = 35, x = ?
3x + 5 = 23, x = ?
2x + 11 = 31, x = ?
9x + 3 = 66, x = ?
6x + 3 = 9, x = ?
7x + 10 = 45, x = ?
5x + 11 = 66, x = ?
9x + 10 = 82, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sprints with a speed potion to steal the ball, then dives into the court drainage water.
2.The villain sprints with a speed potion to steal the ball, then escapes into the dark using night vision.
3.The villain blasts a creeper dunk that shatters the backboard, then floats away gently using slow falling.
4.The villain blasts a creeper dunk that shatters the backboard, then dives into the court drainage water.
5.The villain blasts a creeper dunk that shatters the backboard, then marches through lava with fire resistance.
6.The villain sprints with a speed potion to steal the ball, then floats away gently using slow falling.
7.The villain uses a fire charge shot to clear the court, then tanks through defense blocks with a health boost.
8.The villain teleports with an ender pearl past the defense, then tanks through defense blocks with a health boost.
9.The villain bounces off a slime block to reach the hoop, then floats away gently using slow falling.
10.The villain teleports with an ender pearl past the defense, then marches through lava with fire resistance.
11.The villain blasts a creeper dunk that shatters the backboard, then escapes into the dark using night vision.
12.The villain bounces off a slime block to reach the hoop, then marches through lava with fire resistance.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Netherite Hoop Heist
Culprit: Shai Redstone (slime block bounce · slow falling · left handed shooter · iron crown helmet · glowstone dust)
- Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE WATER BREATHING"2x + 10 = 40, x = 15 (T) · 7x + 3 = 87, x = 12 (C) · 3x + 1 = 55, x = 18 (N) · 8x + 2 = 138, x = 17 (R) · 3x + 11 = 41, x = 10 (B) · 7x + 4 = 67, x = 9 (A) · 7x + 5 = 145, x = 20 (E) · 8x + 6 = 70, x = 8 (S) · 9x + 9 = 36, x = 3 (O) · 5x + 5 = 115, x = 22 (G) · 8x + 9 = 57, x = 6 (W) · 6x + 4 = 118, x = 19 (U) · 2x + 1 = 9, x = 4 (P) · 9x + 4 = 193, x = 21 (H) · 8x + 1 = 113, x = 14 (I) · 3x + 2 = 50, x = 16 (D)
- Clue 2 (Exponents): "LEFT HANDED SHOOTER SIGNED THE SCOREBOARD"3^5 = 243 (L) · 3^3 = 27 (E) · 5^4 = 625 (D) · 17^2 = 289 (B) · 11^2 = 121 (G) · 21^2 = 441 (S) · 2^6 = 64 (F) · 4^2 = 16 (I) · 2^2 = 4 (H) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 19^2 = 361 (O) · 14^2 = 196 (A) · 13^2 = 169 (R) · 2^3 = 8 (C) · 7^2 = 49 (T)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "GLOWSTONE DUST REVEALED THE HIDDEN SNEAK"sqrt(225) = 15 (G) · sqrt(441) = 21 (N) · sqrt(64) = 8 (E) · sqrt(36) = 6 (V) · sqrt(256) = 16 (I) · sqrt(16) = 4 (L) · sqrt(400) = 20 (W) · sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(196) = 14 (U) · sqrt(25) = 5 (T) · sqrt(576) = 24 (D) · sqrt(169) = 13 (H) · sqrt(361) = 19 (A) · sqrt(529) = 23 (O) · sqrt(100) = 10 (K) · sqrt(484) = 22 (S)
- Clue 4 (Integers): "SHARDS OF AN IRON CROWN HELMET WERE FOUND"(-10) + 17 = 7 (S) · 27 - (-6) = 33 (T) · 27 - (-1) = 28 (L) · (-11) + 45 = 34 (M) · (-15) + 21 = 6 (N) · (-4) + 14 = 10 (D) · (-2) + 24 = 22 (H) · 34 - (-6) = 40 (W) · (-15) + 53 = 38 (O) · (-9) + 18 = 9 (U) · 14 - (-1) = 15 (I) · (-9) + 10 = 1 (A) · (-6) + 27 = 21 (E) · 1 - (-4) = 5 (C) · (-7) + 27 = 20 (R) · 20 - (-6) = 26 (F)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Shai Redstone5x + 10 = 25, x = 3 · 4x + 1 = 9, x = 2 · 3x + 5 = 41, x = 12 · 7x + 7 = 35, x = 4 · 3x + 5 = 23, x = 6 · 2x + 11 = 31, x = 10 · 9x + 3 = 66, x = 7 · 6x + 3 = 9, x = 1 · 7x + 10 = 45, x = 5 · 5x + 11 = 66, x = 11 · 9x + 10 = 82, x = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 9 math
- Math topics
- Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Netherite Hoop Heist — set in The Square Garden Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects