🏀 BasketballGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Place valueMultiplicationRoundingFractions of a numberDivision
The Championship Trophy Capers
The golden Championship Trophy has vanished from the high-security center court vault! A mysterious rogue has left a trail of scuffed court tiles and high-tops. It is up to you to decode the playbook and find the phantom player.
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 Shot | Defensive Move | Shooting Hand | Headwear | Tactical Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | step-back three | ankle breaker | left-handed | blue headband | double team play |
| LeBron James | sky-high layup | unreal crossover | right-handed | neon sweatband | zone defense trap |
| Nikola Jokic | no-look buzzer beater | unreal crossover | right-handed | blue headband | zone defense trap |
| Donovan Mitchell | no-look buzzer beater | chase-down block | right-handed | blue headband | zone defense trap |
| Kevin Durant | half-court hook | full-court press | right-handed | retro snapback | full court trap |
| Joel Embiid | sky-high layup | full-court press | right-handed | blue headband | zone defense trap |
| Damian Lillard | sky-high layup | unreal crossover | right-handed | retro snapback | full court trap |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | step-back three | unreal crossover | left-handed | blue headband | double team play |
| James Harden | half-court hook | full-court press | left-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
| Kyrie Irving | half-court hook | unreal crossover | left-handed | blue headband | full court trap |
| Paul George | no-look buzzer beater | full-court press | left-handed | neon sweatband | double team play |
| Jayson Tatum | no-look buzzer beater | full-court press | right-handed | retro snapback | full court trap |
| Devin Booker | no-look buzzer beater | unreal crossover | right-handed | blue headband | full court trap |
| De'Aaron Fox | half-court hook | chase-down block | right-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
| Ja Morant | sky-high layup | ankle breaker | right-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
| Steph Curry | no-look buzzer beater | unreal crossover | right-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
| Jimmy Butler | sky-high layup | unreal crossover | right-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
| Jaylen Brown | double clutch dunk | chase-down block | right-handed | neon sweatband | zone defense trap |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | double clutch dunk | ankle breaker | left-handed | blue headband | full court trap |
| Luka Doncic | double clutch dunk | ankle breaker | right-handed | neon sweatband | full court trap |
| Kawhi Leonard | no-look buzzer beater | lightning spin move | right-handed | retro snapback | zone defense trap |
Clue 1
Place value
We look at the digital scoreboard digit values to find a secret message hidden in the ten-thousands place.
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
400
200
3000
6000
9000
3000
8000
60
5000
30
3000
6000
9000
30
T
400
10
6000
3000
T
400
200
3000
6000
500
800
9000
50
30
700
3000
What is the value of the 4 in 88,413?T
What is the value of the 1 in 85,016?U
What is the value of the 5 in 476,951?M
What is the value of the 7 in 84,746?V
What is the value of the 2 in 17,273?H
What is the value of the 5 in 123,568?P
What is the value of the 6 in 75,461?K
What is the value of the 3 in 773,296?E
What is the value of the 8 in 638,419?A
What is the value of the 9 in 89,786?N
What is the value of the 6 in 586,219?S
What is the value of the 8 in 67,819?I
What is the value of the 3 in 951,931?O
What is the value of the 5 in 205,003?D
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To find the next clue we must calculate the total basketballs stored in five large racks of twelve.
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
3
22
144
T
3
22
55
144
66
96
81
55
8
8
121
144
5
15
55
T
3
22
T
3
22
144
81
55
32
22
T
3
22
42
10
96
1 × 3 =T
5 × 3 =W
8 × 1 =B
4 × 8 =G
11 × 6 =F
11 × 11 =L
1 × 5 =S
12 × 12 =E
2 × 11 =H
8 × 12 =D
6 × 7 =A
9 × 9 =R
5 × 11 =I
2 × 5 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The arena speed radar only shows rounded numbers so we must round the ball velocity to unlock this hint.
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
2900
300
9000
20
170
90
170
230
170
20
290
170
7000
430
4300
4300
3700
700
A
2900
3000
3700
900
430
290
3000
4300
A
2900
30
170
700
Round 2,865 to the nearest hundredA
Round 4,286 to the nearest hundredL
Round 91 to the nearest tenD
Round 6,894 to the nearest thousandW
Round 3,689 to the nearest hundredT
Round 894 to the nearest hundredH
Round 298 to the nearest hundredZ
Round 428 to the nearest tenI
Round 23 to the nearest tenN
Round 8,847 to the nearest thousandO
Round 29 to the nearest tenY
Round 168 to the nearest tenE
Round 3,214 to the nearest thousandP
Round 293 to the nearest tenS
Round 228 to the nearest tenF
Round 654 to the nearest hundredR
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
By calculating exactly three-fourths of the forty jerseys in the laundry bin we find the code for the locker room.
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
25
37
17
16
30
16
11
17
29
T
25
13
35
15
11
11
17
13
3
35
17
T
25
35
15
16
33
3
11
32
3
29
22
4/8 of 50 =T
1/2 of 22 =P
1/3 of 9 =A
1/4 of 140 =R
3/5 of 25 =O
2/6 of 39 =D
4/6 of 45 =U
2/10 of 185 =H
1/2 of 64 =B
5/10 of 58 =C
4/8 of 44 =K
3/5 of 55 =N
2/4 of 34 =E
1/10 of 160 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We divide the eighty team towels equally among the players to solve the final locker combination.
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
36 ÷ 9 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drills a step-back three, then swats a chase-down block.
2.The villain smashes a half-court hook, then powers through a lightning spin move.
3.The villain sinks a no-look buzzer beater, then executes an ankle breaker.
4.The villain sinks a no-look buzzer beater, then unleashes an unreal crossover.
5.The villain drills a step-back three, then unleashes an unreal crossover.
6.The villain slams a double clutch dunk, then initiates a full-court press.
7.The villain smashes a half-court hook, then swats a chase-down block.
8.The villain glides in a sky-high layup, then executes an ankle breaker.
9.The villain slams a double clutch dunk, then executes an ankle breaker.
10.The villain slams a double clutch dunk, then swats a chase-down block.
11.The villain glides in a sky-high layup, then unleashes an unreal crossover.
12.The villain drills a step-back three, then powers through a lightning spin move.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Trophy Capers
Culprit: Ja Morant (sky-high layup · ankle breaker · right-handed · retro snapback · zone defense trap)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAK DOES NOT USE THE SPIN MOVE"What is the value of the 4 in 88,413? = 400 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 85,016? = 10 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 476,951? = 50 (M) · What is the value of the 7 in 84,746? = 700 (V) · What is the value of the 2 in 17,273? = 200 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 123,568? = 500 (P) · What is the value of the 6 in 75,461? = 60 (K) · What is the value of the 3 in 773,296? = 3000 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 638,419? = 8000 (A) · What is the value of the 9 in 89,786? = 9000 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 586,219? = 6000 (S) · What is the value of the 8 in 67,819? = 800 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 951,931? = 30 (O) · What is the value of the 5 in 205,003? = 5000 (D)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DRIBBLES WITH THE RIGHT HAND"1 × 3 = 3 (T) · 5 × 3 = 15 (W) · 8 × 1 = 8 (B) · 4 × 8 = 32 (G) · 11 × 6 = 66 (F) · 11 × 11 = 121 (L) · 1 × 5 = 5 (S) · 12 × 12 = 144 (E) · 2 × 11 = 22 (H) · 8 × 12 = 96 (D) · 6 × 7 = 42 (A) · 9 × 9 = 81 (R) · 5 × 11 = 55 (I) · 2 × 5 = 10 (N)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "A ZONE DEFENSE WILL TRAP THIS PLAYER"Round 2,865 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (A) · Round 4,286 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (L) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (D) · Round 6,894 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (W) · Round 3,689 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (T) · Round 894 to the nearest hundred = 900 (H) · Round 298 to the nearest hundred = 300 (Z) · Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (I) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 8,847 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (Y) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 3,214 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (P) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (S) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (F) · Round 654 to the nearest hundred = 700 (R)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A RETRO SNAPBACK"4/8 of 50 = 25 (T) · 1/2 of 22 = 11 (P) · 1/3 of 9 = 3 (A) · 1/4 of 140 = 35 (R) · 3/5 of 25 = 15 (O) · 2/6 of 39 = 13 (D) · 4/6 of 45 = 30 (U) · 2/10 of 185 = 37 (H) · 1/2 of 64 = 32 (B) · 5/10 of 58 = 29 (C) · 4/8 of 44 = 22 (K) · 3/5 of 55 = 33 (N) · 2/4 of 34 = 17 (E) · 1/10 of 160 = 16 (S)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Ja Morant36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Multiplication, Rounding, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Championship Trophy Capers — set in the gleaming hardwood court of the Hoop-Dome during the finals
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects