🏀 BasketballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationSkip countingWord problemsBar modelsMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Right before the final buzzer of the big game, someone swiped the Championship Trophy from the trophy display! The Arena Detective needs your math skills to narrow down the suspects.
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 | Hairstyle | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | No Look Passes | High Bounce Wristband | Left Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Bright Arena Lights |
| Sue Bird | Lightning Fast Break | Turbo Whistle | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Angel Reese | Sky High Dunk | Fast Break Sneakers | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Ankle Breaker Dribble | High Bounce Wristband | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Aja Wilson | No Look Passes | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Damian Lillard | No Look Passes | Mega Grip Gloves | Left Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Loud Buzzer Noise |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Half Court Hook Shots | Fast Break Sneakers | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Candace Parker | Lightning Fast Break | High Bounce Wristband | Left Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Loud Buzzer Noise |
| Luka Doncic | No Look Passes | Turbo Whistle | Right Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Bright Arena Lights |
| Jalen Brunson | Ankle Breaker Dribble | Mega Grip Gloves | Left Handed Dribbler | High Top Fade | Bright Arena Lights |
| Steph Curry | Sky High Dunk | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | High Top Fade | Bright Arena Lights |
| Ja Morant | Ankle Breaker Dribble | Glowing Headband | Left Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Bright Arena Lights |
| Jayson Tatum | No Look Passes | Mega Grip Gloves | Right Handed Dribbler | High Top Fade | Bright Arena Lights |
| Breanna Stewart | Ankle Breaker Dribble | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Bright Arena Lights |
| Paolo Banchero | Sky High Dunk | Fast Break Sneakers | Left Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Maya Moore | Sky High Dunk | High Bounce Wristband | Left Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Bright Arena Lights |
| Devin Booker | Half Court Hook Shots | Turbo Whistle | Right Handed Dribbler | High Top Fade | Bright Arena Lights |
| Kelsey Plum | Ankle Breaker Dribble | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Loud Buzzer Noise |
| LeBron James | Lightning Fast Break | Mega Grip Gloves | Right Handed Dribbler | Buzz Cut | Bright Arena Lights |
| Sabrina Ionescu | No Look Passes | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | High Top Fade | Loud Buzzer Noise |
| Anthony Edwards | Sky High Dunk | Glowing Headband | Right Handed Dribbler | Braided Hair | Squeaky Floorboards |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The coach arranged basketball racks into equal rows to check for clues. Solve the multiplication to uncover the first 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
88
56
144
56
81
81
100
16
20
144
22
15
56
22
16
20
81
56
40
80
56
1
81
2
20
27
144
44
77
40
16
T
88
1
22
20
33
8 × 11 =T
7 × 11 =R
12 × 12 =E
5 × 8 =I
2 × 10 =N
7 × 8 =H
11 × 3 =D
1 × 1 =B
10 × 10 =P
9 × 3 =C
3 × 5 =K
11 × 4 =W
8 × 10 =G
11 × 2 =A
9 × 9 =O
4 × 4 =S
2 × 1 =U
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Skip counting
The referee counted warm up laps around the hardwood floor by twos and fives. Skip count along 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.
T
6
10
100
10
33
33
35
110
8
100
26
21
14
110
26
80
14
27
10
T
6
10
26
8
65
100
65
65
80
14
130
130
39
100
80
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10T
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120E
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75D
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130S
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100R
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33G
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14H
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27K
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150B
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12N
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39O
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30A
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45P
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
The stat tracker tallied up points and rebounds to solve a court mystery. Work through the story problem to get this clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
S
45
68
47
78
70
73
61
F
L
O
O
R
B
O
70
R
D
S
45
The team captain lined up 5 rows of 9 towel sets. How many towel sets in all?S
The team captain lined up 7 rows of 10 water bottles. How many water bottles in all?A
The team captain found 16 water bottles yesterday and 45 more today. How many water bottles in all?Y
There were 88 basketballs. 20 were used up. How many basketballs are left?Q
The team captain found 17 foam fingers yesterday and 30 more today. How many foam fingers in all?U
There were 103 basketballs. 25 were used up. How many basketballs are left?E
There were 77 foam fingers. 4 were used up. How many foam fingers are left?K
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Bar model word problems
The equipment manager used bar models to compare the lengths of jump ropes. Study the visual bars to unlock the clue.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandofhairturnedupatthescene.
B
15
25
24
24
50
25
57
The team captain shares 180 sweatbands equally among 12 teams. How many sweatbands does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→B
The team captain shares 50 sweatbands equally among 2 teams. How many sweatbands does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→U
There were 61 sweatbands in all. 4 sweatbands were used. How many sweatbands are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
The red team has 77 sweatbands and the blue team has 27 sweatbands. How many more sweatbands does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→C
The team captain has 4 times as many foam fingers as a teammate. The teammate has 6 foam fingers. How many foam fingers does the team captain have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→Z
0/5 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The scoreboard lost a few numbers during halftime. Find the missing points to complete 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
9 + ___ = 18
2 + ___ = 8
5 + ___ = 7
10 + ___ = 21
1 + ___ = 13
8 + ___ = 12
6 + ___ = 11
7 + ___ = 14
4 + ___ = 12
8 + ___ = 18
7 + ___ = 8
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain hit a half court shot over the gate, then snapped a high bounce wristband.
2.The villain leaped clear over the scoreboard, then laced up fast break sneakers.
3.The villain hit a half court shot over the gate, then laced up fast break sneakers.
4.The villain faked out the gym monitor, then snapped a high bounce wristband.
5.The villain dribbled past the security guard, then snapped a high bounce wristband.
6.The villain faked out the gym monitor, then adjusted a glowing headband.
7.The villain dashed down the court unseen, then adjusted a glowing headband.
8.The villain faked out the gym monitor, then laced up fast break sneakers.
9.The villain dashed down the court unseen, then blew a turbo whistle.
10.The villain leaped clear over the scoreboard, then put on mega grip gloves.
11.The villain faked out the gym monitor, then blew a turbo whistle.
12.The villain dribbled past the security guard, then laced up fast break sneakers.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Half Court Hook Shots · Fast Break Sneakers · Right Handed Dribbler · Buzz Cut · Squeaky Floorboards)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE HOOP SNEAK HAS NO HIGH BOUNCE WRISTBAND"8 × 11 = 88 (T) · 7 × 11 = 77 (R) · 12 × 12 = 144 (E) · 5 × 8 = 40 (I) · 2 × 10 = 20 (N) · 7 × 8 = 56 (H) · 11 × 3 = 33 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (B) · 10 × 10 = 100 (P) · 9 × 3 = 27 (C) · 3 × 5 = 15 (K) · 11 × 4 = 44 (W) · 8 × 10 = 80 (G) · 11 × 2 = 22 (A) · 9 × 9 = 81 (O) · 4 × 4 = 16 (S) · 2 × 1 = 2 (U)
- Clue 2 (Skip counting): "THE HOOP SNEAK IS A RIGHT HANDED DRIBBLER"Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (T) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (E) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (D) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (S) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (R) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (G) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (H) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27 = 21 (K) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150 = 130 (B) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (N) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (O) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (A) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45 = 35 (P)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "SQUEAKY FLOORBOARDS"The team captain lined up 5 rows of 9 towel sets. How many towel sets in all? = 45 (S) · The team captain lined up 7 rows of 10 water bottles. How many water bottles in all? = 70 (A) · The team captain found 16 water bottles yesterday and 45 more today. How many water bottles in all? = 61 (Y) · There were 88 basketballs. 20 were used up. How many basketballs are left? = 68 (Q) · The team captain found 17 foam fingers yesterday and 30 more today. How many foam fingers in all? = 47 (U) · There were 103 basketballs. 25 were used up. How many basketballs are left? = 78 (E) · There were 77 foam fingers. 4 were used up. How many foam fingers are left? = 73 (K)
- Clue 4 (Bar model word problems): "BUZZ CUT"The team captain shares 180 sweatbands equally among 12 teams. How many sweatbands does each team get? = 15 (B) · The team captain shares 50 sweatbands equally among 2 teams. How many sweatbands does each team get? = 25 (U) · There were 61 sweatbands in all. 4 sweatbands were used. How many sweatbands are left? = 57 (T) · The red team has 77 sweatbands and the blue team has 27 sweatbands. How many more sweatbands does the red team have? = 50 (C) · The team captain has 4 times as many foam fingers as a teammate. The teammate has 6 foam fingers. How many foam fingers does the team captain have? = 24 (Z)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Giannis Antetokounmpo9 + ___ = 18 = 9 · 2 + ___ = 8 = 6 · 5 + ___ = 7 = 2 · 10 + ___ = 21 = 11 · 1 + ___ = 13 = 12 · 8 + ___ = 12 = 4 · 6 + ___ = 11 = 5 · 7 + ___ = 14 = 7 · 4 + ___ = 12 = 8 · 8 + ___ = 18 = 10 · 7 + ___ = 8 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Skip counting, Word problems, Bar models, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in Hooptown Grand Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects