Parkview’s Tyem Freeman continues to be the best show in town in win over Cape Notre Dame

It took only 58 seconds for Parkview star Tyem Freeman to showcase the athleticism that made him one of the most sought-after recruits in southwest Missouri. 

On a breakaway off a turnover, the Missouri State signee jumped from halfway up the free throw line to throw down a one-handed jam to put Viking fans on their feet Thursday night at Parkview High School. 

Just minutes later, off a rebound, Freeman put it back while letting out a roar. On the following possession, Freeman found himself open again inside the lane for yet another one-handed highlight dunk.

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The Freeman experience is alive and well. 

Parkview (2-0) put on a show in Thursday’s night opener in a 61-45 win over Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) in a first-round matchup in the Arvest Classic. 

The Vikings will play Lafayette (Wildwood) on Friday night at 8:30 in the tournament’s semifinals. 

Freeman said after the game it was important for the Vikings to make a statement early in the season against a quality opponent. 

“Coach says we have a target on our backs,” Freeman said. “We’re just trying to prove that we’re the best team in the area and why we’re the No. 1 team in the state.”

Freeman and the Vikings have embraced the target and they looked like a team worthy of being mentioned as a state championship contender on Thursday night. 

It wasn’t all Freeman for the Vikings.

A talented roster featuring plenty of length and some outside shooting showed the Vikings aren’t to be messed with. 

Standouts included 6-foot-9 senior Latre Morrison was a force inside while freshman guard Anthony Green showed he could hit from deep. 

“We have a lot of length and some young kids we’re working in early,” Vikings head coach Landon Cornish said. “We’re going to let them work through some turnovers. We took out our older guys and let them be the guy and work through that.”

While the storyline of Freeman being the local star signed on to play at MSU is there, the Vikings should be a team that makes noise across the state. 

Thursday night was Freeman’s second consecutive 20-plus point performance. Freeman opened the season with a 22-point performance in a 72-60 win over Rogers (Arkansas) on Nov. 20. 

Freeman continued with highlight plays throughout the matchup — including a putback dunk off the backboard. 

He left the game with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter with a cramp in his calf but he was able to return to the game with a minute and a half left. 

“My team is amazing,” Freeman said. “Even when I went out with the injury, they pushed it to a 20-point game.”

Nixa collapses in second half

Parkview’s semifinal opponent is coming off a second-half rally that propelled them into the Final Four of the Arvest Classic. 

Nixa led Lafayette (Wildwood) 42-29 at the half despite a cold-shooting night from Eagles stud Kaleb Wofford. 

Lafayette charged back and was able to tie the game at 58 with 5:02 left in the game before they’d take a lead just seconds later after turning the ball over leading to an easy bucket. 

The two went back-and-forth for the remainder of the game but Lafayette broke away for another easy layup on a break with seconds remaining to go up four. 

A 3-pointer by Ace Akers with 0.5 seconds left on the clock turned out to be too little, too late as Lafeytte came away with a 70-69 victory. 

Josh Mason led the Eagles with 26 points. Nixa plays Cape Notre Dame in the consolation bracket Friday at 5:30 p.m.