🏀 BasketballGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4Place valueMultiplicationPercentagesExponentsDivision
The Big Championship Heist
Right before the final buzzer, the stadium lights went out! When they came back on, the golden championship trophy was missing from the center court. The referee needs your help to find which star player 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 | super skill | dribbling hand | headband color | defensive flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin | no-look bounce pass | stealing the ball | left-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| Devin | ankle-breaker crossover | guarding the MVP | left-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| Trae | ankle-breaker crossover | blocking tall centers | left-hand dribbler | red headband | gets tired quickly |
| Jayson | double-clutch dunk | guarding the MVP | left-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| Stephen | no-look bounce pass | blocking tall centers | left-hand dribbler | red headband | gets tired quickly |
| Kawhi | no-look bounce pass | guarding the MVP | right-hand dribbler | red headband | gets tired quickly |
| Nikola | half-court buzzer-beater | running fast breaks | left-hand dribbler | green headband | misses free throws |
| LeBron | ankle-breaker crossover | stealing the ball | right-hand dribbler | red headband | fouls out early |
| Spud | no-look bounce pass | blocking tall centers | left-hand dribbler | green headband | gets tired quickly |
| Draymond | ankle-breaker crossover | running fast breaks | right-hand dribbler | red headband | gets tired quickly |
| Joel | ankle-breaker crossover | stealing the ball | left-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| Kyrie | double-clutch dunk | shooting trick shots | left-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| DeMar | sky-hook shot | stealing the ball | left-hand dribbler | green headband | misses free throws |
| Klay | half-court buzzer-beater | stealing the ball | left-hand dribbler | green headband | misses free throws |
| Russell | half-court buzzer-beater | guarding the MVP | left-hand dribbler | red headband | fouls out early |
| Shai | sky-hook shot | shooting trick shots | right-hand dribbler | blue headband | misses free throws |
| Muggsy | no-look bounce pass | guarding the MVP | right-hand dribbler | green headband | gets tired quickly |
| James | sky-hook shot | shooting trick shots | left-hand dribbler | blue headband | fouls out early |
| Luka | sky-hook shot | stealing the ball | left-hand dribbler | red headband | gets tired quickly |
| Anthony | sky-hook shot | guarding the MVP | right-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
| Damian | ankle-breaker crossover | stealing the ball | right-hand dribbler | red headband | misses free throws |
Clue 1
Place value
The gym scoreboard flashed a strange code. Let us check the place value of the digits 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.
T
100
900
90
400
300
30
30
2000
300
800
4000
8000
90
7000
800
8000
T
100
7000
900
8000
8000
T
100
T
100
1000
300
6000
200
7000
900
8000
T
100
7000
What is the value of the 1 in 70,188?T
What is the value of the 2 in 693,258?K
What is the value of the 3 in 856,235?L
What is the value of the 8 in 28,964?O
What is the value of the 6 in 326,444?C
What is the value of the 8 in 597,829?N
What is the value of the 3 in 44,311?I
What is the value of the 2 in 62,759?A
What is the value of the 4 in 59,497?V
What is the value of the 4 in 154,262?D
What is the value of the 1 in 351,667?R
What is the value of the 7 in 647,918?S
What is the value of the 9 in 602,291?E
What is the value of the 9 in 575,940?H
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The coach needs to count the practice basketballs stored in equal rows. Solve the multiplication to find 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.
T
40
10
42
7
16
7
11
42
56
T
40
45
120
110
99
99
96
42
7
12
110
T
40
10
T
40
10
42
110
120
96
42
27
T
40
10
44
18
45
5 × 8 =T
10 × 12 =R
11 × 1 =P
6 × 7 =E
7 × 8 =C
12 × 8 =L
3 × 4 =W
9 × 11 =B
2 × 5 =H
9 × 5 =D
8 × 2 =U
4 × 11 =A
9 × 3 =F
2 × 9 =N
10 × 11 =I
7 × 1 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Percentages
We found a clipboard showing the team's free throw stats. Calculate the shooting percentages to unlock the secret.
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
8
41
20
42
21
7
7
37
21
27
37
7
43
37
1
28
18
21
28
28
20
28
36
29
20
20
T
8
41
29
31
43
28
20% of 40 =T
25% of 112 =S
60% of 60 =F
5% of 360 =M
10% of 210 =I
5% of 860 =W
5% of 580 =R
5% of 840 =V
20% of 185 =A
50% of 14 =L
5% of 540 =N
25% of 164 =H
25% of 124 =O
25% of 80 =E
50% of 2 =Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The basketball tournament bracket grows fast every round. Use exponents to figure out how many fans are watching.
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
216
169
128
81
121
128
A
216
81
144
A
216
289
81
9
A
216
64
81
169
36
343
343
128
81
36
289
8
121
128
256
36
225
169
8
6^3 =A
2^8 =C
7^3 =P
13^2 =R
3^2 =W
2^7 =E
15^2 =U
9^2 =D
6^2 =O
11^2 =H
12^2 =B
2^3 =T
4^3 =S
17^2 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The referee has to split up the training jerseys evenly among all the players. Divide them up to get the final clue.
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
42 ÷ 7 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain slams a double-clutch dunk, then snatches the golden basketball.
2.The villain shoots a high sky-hook shot, then takes the lucky court whistle.
3.The villain performs an ankle-breaker crossover, then grabs the team mascot costume.
4.The villain slams a double-clutch dunk, then swipes the coach playbook.
5.The villain slams a double-clutch dunk, then grabs the team mascot costume.
6.The villain makes a wild no-look bounce pass, then steals the championship trophy.
7.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer-beater, then swipes the coach playbook.
8.The villain shoots a high sky-hook shot, then steals the championship trophy.
9.The villain performs an ankle-breaker crossover, then steals the championship trophy.
10.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer-beater, then snatches the golden basketball.
11.The villain slams a double-clutch dunk, then takes the lucky court whistle.
12.The villain slams a double-clutch dunk, then steals the championship trophy.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Big Championship Heist
Culprit: Jayson (double-clutch dunk · guarding the MVP · left-hand dribbler · red headband · misses free throws)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT SHOOT TRICK SHOTS"What is the value of the 1 in 70,188? = 100 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 693,258? = 200 (K) · What is the value of the 3 in 856,235? = 30 (L) · What is the value of the 8 in 28,964? = 8000 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 326,444? = 6000 (C) · What is the value of the 8 in 597,829? = 800 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 44,311? = 300 (I) · What is the value of the 2 in 62,759? = 2000 (A) · What is the value of the 4 in 59,497? = 400 (V) · What is the value of the 4 in 154,262? = 4000 (D) · What is the value of the 1 in 351,667? = 1000 (R) · What is the value of the 7 in 647,918? = 7000 (S) · What is the value of the 9 in 602,291? = 90 (E) · What is the value of the 9 in 575,940? = 900 (H)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DRIBBLES WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"5 × 8 = 40 (T) · 10 × 12 = 120 (R) · 11 × 1 = 11 (P) · 6 × 7 = 42 (E) · 7 × 8 = 56 (C) · 12 × 8 = 96 (L) · 3 × 4 = 12 (W) · 9 × 11 = 99 (B) · 2 × 5 = 10 (H) · 9 × 5 = 45 (D) · 8 × 2 = 16 (U) · 4 × 11 = 44 (A) · 9 × 3 = 27 (F) · 2 × 9 = 18 (N) · 10 × 11 = 110 (I) · 7 × 1 = 7 (S)
- Clue 3 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN ALWAYS MISSES FREE THROWS"20% of 40 = 8 (T) · 25% of 112 = 28 (S) · 60% of 60 = 36 (F) · 5% of 360 = 18 (M) · 10% of 210 = 21 (I) · 5% of 860 = 43 (W) · 5% of 580 = 29 (R) · 5% of 840 = 42 (V) · 20% of 185 = 37 (A) · 50% of 14 = 7 (L) · 5% of 540 = 27 (N) · 25% of 164 = 41 (H) · 25% of 124 = 31 (O) · 25% of 80 = 20 (E) · 50% of 2 = 1 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "A RED HEADBAND WAS DROPPED ON THE COURT"6^3 = 216 (A) · 2^8 = 256 (C) · 7^3 = 343 (P) · 13^2 = 169 (R) · 3^2 = 9 (W) · 2^7 = 128 (E) · 15^2 = 225 (U) · 9^2 = 81 (D) · 6^2 = 36 (O) · 11^2 = 121 (H) · 12^2 = 144 (B) · 2^3 = 8 (T) · 4^3 = 64 (S) · 17^2 = 289 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Jayson42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Multiplication, Percentages, Exponents, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Big Championship Heist — set in The Hoop Dome Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects