🏀 BasketballGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Place valueRoundingMultiplicationFractions of a numberDivision
The Championship Sneaker Caper
The gold championship trophy has vanished right from center court! In its place, the Sneaker Snatcher left a flat basketball and a trail of high-tech gear prints. As the junior detective on the case, you must analyze the court stats, decode the sports telemetry, and find the culprit among the league stars before the post-game press conference begins.
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 | Sneaker Tech | Shooting Hand | Headband Style | Defensive Kryptonite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bam Adebayo | Triple-Double Threat | Sticky Grip Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Stephen Curry | Sky-High Slam Dunk | Turbo Boost Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | No Headband Bald Look | Full-Court Press |
| Joel Embiid | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Turbo Boost Laces | Right-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Double-Team Defense |
| Donovan Mitchell | Lightning Crossover | Gravity-Defying Springs | Right-Handed Shooter | No Headband Bald Look | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Luka Doncic | Sky-High Slam Dunk | Sonic Whistle Sensors | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Paul George | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Turbo Boost Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Anthony Edwards | Lightning Crossover | Sticky Grip Soles | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Kawhi Leonard | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Light-Up Glow Strips | Right-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Full-Court Press |
| Ja Morant | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Light-Up Glow Strips | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| DeAaron Fox | Sky-High Slam Dunk | Sonic Whistle Sensors | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Double-Team Defense |
| Kevin Durant | Sky-High Slam Dunk | Sonic Whistle Sensors | Right-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Damian Lillard | No-Look Alley-Oop | Gravity-Defying Springs | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| LeBron James | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Gravity-Defying Springs | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Double-Team Defense |
| Devin Booker | Triple-Double Threat | Gravity-Defying Springs | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Nikola Jokic | Triple-Double Threat | Light-Up Glow Strips | Left-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Double-Team Defense |
| Jayson Tatum | Lightning Crossover | Sticky Grip Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Kyrie Irving | Triple-Double Threat | Gravity-Defying Springs | Right-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Anthony Davis | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Sticky Grip Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Striped Retro Headband | Double-Team Defense |
| Trae Young | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Turbo Boost Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | No Headband Bald Look | Slippery Wet Floor |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Half-Court Buzzer Beater | Sonic Whistle Sensors | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Full-Court Press |
| Jaylen Brown | Triple-Double Threat | Sticky Grip Soles | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Full-Court Press |
Clue 1
Place value
The arena security system locked down the files. To read the first file, we must find the digit in the ten-thousands place of the player registration count.
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
300
70
100
400
900
100
30
10
10
5000
100
1000
30
5000
T
300
4000
1000
100
20
70
900
1000
T
300
40
100
1000
100
30
1000
5000
50
1000
What is the value of the 3 in 852,362?T
What is the value of the 9 in 276,982?I
What is the value of the 4 in 527,645?L
What is the value of the 5 in 286,651?R
What is the value of the 2 in 18,525?W
What is the value of the 4 in 637,489?F
What is the value of the 7 in 314,272?H
What is the value of the 4 in 584,611?U
What is the value of the 1 in 37,914?D
What is the value of the 5 in 485,249?O
What is the value of the 1 in 74,166?E
What is the value of the 3 in 76,537?N
What is the value of the 1 in 341,739?S
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The arena speed camera captured the getaway runner, but the output screen rounds all speeds to the nearest tenth of a second. Solve the rounding puzzle to see the clip.
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
2900
230
7000
3000
300
290
500
9000
230
9000
50
300
30
30
3000
230
3700
4300
290
3700
70
50
30
500
3000
300
230
130
290
L
2900
L
2900
Round 2,893 to the nearest hundredL
Round 7,275 to the nearest thousandF
Round 134 to the nearest tenB
Round 73 to the nearest tenK
Round 31 to the nearest tenO
Round 3,410 to the nearest thousandT
Round 49 to the nearest tenS
Round 292 to the nearest tenA
Round 9,136 to the nearest thousandD
Round 4,337 to the nearest hundredM
Round 326 to the nearest hundredH
Round 229 to the nearest tenE
Round 547 to the nearest hundredN
Round 3,739 to the nearest hundredR
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found stacks of basketball crates in the team warehouse. Multiplying the rows by the crates in each section will unlock the locker room door containing 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.
A
49
32
108
56
50
50
110
28
25
120
108
4
4
28
28
9
56
22
32
27
33
110
56
28
11
28
56
50
7 × 7 =A
10 × 11 =E
5 × 10 =P
9 × 12 =L
9 × 3 =T
7 × 4 =R
11 × 1 =G
7 × 8 =I
10 × 12 =F
11 × 2 =N
1 × 4 =O
4 × 8 =S
3 × 11 =H
1 × 9 =U
5 × 5 =Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
The team trainers need to hand out energy drinks to the defense. Finding the exact fraction of the supply remaining will lead us to the suspect's water station.
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
32
30
16
20
36
31
10
37
9
40
16
20
23
11
9
S
32
2
31
37
30
40
31
26
20
7
10
1/6 of 192 =S
1/2 of 62 =E
5/10 of 14 =N
3/6 of 22 =W
4/5 of 20 =R
1/4 of 36 =A
5/10 of 74 =F
2/10 of 10 =L
3/6 of 52 =H
6/8 of 40 =T
4/8 of 80 =B
2/10 of 180 =P
5/10 of 46 =C
5/6 of 24 =I
5/6 of 12 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The referee needs to divide the court into equal zones to sweep for glowing shoe prints. Dividing the total floor boards by the guard count reveals 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
72 ÷ 8 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
22 ÷ 2 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain throws a no-look alley-oop, then activates gravity-defying springs.
2.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer beater, then engages sticky grip soles.
3.The villain performs a sky-high slam dunk, then flashes light-up glow strips.
4.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer beater, then turns on turbo boost laces.
5.The villain throws a no-look alley-oop, then turns on turbo boost laces.
6.The villain throws a no-look alley-oop, then engages sticky grip soles.
7.The villain executes a lightning crossover, then engages sticky grip soles.
8.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer beater, then triggers sonic whistle sensors.
9.The villain sinks a half-court buzzer beater, then flashes light-up glow strips.
10.The villain secures a triple-double threat, then turns on turbo boost laces.
11.The villain executes a lightning crossover, then flashes light-up glow strips.
12.The villain secures a triple-double threat, then activates gravity-defying springs.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Sneaker Caper
Culprit: Devin Booker (Triple-Double Threat · Gravity-Defying Springs · Left-Handed Shooter · Striped Retro Headband · Slippery Wet Floor)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE FIEND DOES NOT USE WHISTLE SENSORS"What is the value of the 3 in 852,362? = 300 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 276,982? = 900 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 527,645? = 40 (L) · What is the value of the 5 in 286,651? = 50 (R) · What is the value of the 2 in 18,525? = 20 (W) · What is the value of the 4 in 637,489? = 400 (F) · What is the value of the 7 in 314,272? = 70 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 584,611? = 4000 (U) · What is the value of the 1 in 37,914? = 10 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 485,249? = 5000 (O) · What is the value of the 1 in 74,166? = 100 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 76,537? = 30 (N) · What is the value of the 1 in 341,739? = 1000 (S)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "LEFT HANDED SHOOTER MARKS ON THE BALL"Round 2,893 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (L) · Round 7,275 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (B) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (K) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 3,410 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (S) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (A) · Round 9,136 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D) · Round 4,337 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (M) · Round 326 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H) · Round 229 to the nearest ten = 230 (E) · Round 547 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N) · Round 3,739 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A SLIPPERY FLOOR RUINS THEIR GRIP"7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 10 × 11 = 110 (E) · 5 × 10 = 50 (P) · 9 × 12 = 108 (L) · 9 × 3 = 27 (T) · 7 × 4 = 28 (R) · 11 × 1 = 11 (G) · 7 × 8 = 56 (I) · 10 × 12 = 120 (F) · 11 × 2 = 22 (N) · 1 × 4 = 4 (O) · 4 × 8 = 32 (S) · 3 × 11 = 33 (H) · 1 × 9 = 9 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "STRIPED FABRIC WAS LEFT BEHIND"1/6 of 192 = 32 (S) · 1/2 of 62 = 31 (E) · 5/10 of 14 = 7 (N) · 3/6 of 22 = 11 (W) · 4/5 of 20 = 16 (R) · 1/4 of 36 = 9 (A) · 5/10 of 74 = 37 (F) · 2/10 of 10 = 2 (L) · 3/6 of 52 = 26 (H) · 6/8 of 40 = 30 (T) · 4/8 of 80 = 40 (B) · 2/10 of 180 = 36 (P) · 5/10 of 46 = 23 (C) · 5/6 of 24 = 20 (I) · 5/6 of 12 = 10 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Devin Booker72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Rounding, Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Championship Sneaker Caper — set in the bustling court of the Arena of Champions during the final buzzer
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects