It’s been a tough road for the Exeter boys basketball team this season, battling through a rebuilding year with a no-quit attitude.

The Tigers (0-17) have six games left in the regular-season slate, three of which are conference games, and Coach Tremayne Williams likes the odds to break the winless streak.

“Talent-wise, there are one or two teams on the schedule that we may not match up as well with, but looking at all the teams, I say why not take all of them,” he said. “I like our chances with who we have remaining on our schedule. We had some really hard games at the beginning of the year.”

One conference opponent the Tigers will meet for a second time is Thomas Jefferson (14-4), who they played to a 1-point loss in the second game of the year. Williams said after that game, he though the team was on the up, but scoring struggles have bit the Tigers as the games go on.

“Our shooting percentage really dropped,” he said. “We were at a good clip early in the year, but as it’s gone on, we’ve dropped. It’s not because of bad opportunities; the ball is just not going through the hoop.”

Losing four starters from last season, Williams said the offense runs primarily through juniors Nathan Tackett and Zach Lee, and hefty contributions are also coming from senior Levi Gautney and sophomore Kason Nelson.

“We are finding a new identity playing through our big fella, Nathan,” Williams said. “We are trying to play through him while still getting good shots for our other people. Zach is a huge contributor, and Levi, our one senior, has been around the program a long time and does a lot of the little things for us. He does the dirty work and is unselfish with his play. Kason is taking on a bigger role with the team running the offense, and he’s stepped in and is figuring it out as we go.”

On the defensive end of the floor, Williams said the Tigers will find success if they can put together a whole game.

“We have to try to hide some of our weaknesses, because we can’t always o athlete for athlete and win those matchups,” he said. “We are still trying to find a defense that works for us.

“We have to put together a whole game. We have flashes in the pan where we play well, then it all deteriorates quickly.”

Consistent play for a whole four quarters is something the team is learning on the go.

“We need the experience,” Williams said. “last year, we had four guys that contributed a lot in different ways, and the new guys are picking up where they left off and trying to find themselves within our new team structure.”

While experience takes time, Williams said this season may be a struggle win-wise, but the future is more promising.

“We can build on the fact Levi is our only senior,” he said. “We will return most of our team next year, and we hope to learn from our mistakes this season and not make them when we play harder teams on the schedule.”

To learn, the Tigers have to keep working, and Williams said their commitment is without question.

“I don’t like the word ‘can’t’ and don’t allow the boys to say it,” he said. “We don’t let it swell on our minds when we don’t put together a whole game. This team hasn’t quit once this season or shown a quitter’s mentality.

“Guys that are playing in different roles are still asking questions, and everyone is trying to improve, and I like to see that instead of mailing it in.

Looking toward the Class 1, District 4 tournament, the seven-team group has three teams with double-digit wins in Chadwick, Couch and Niangua.

Williams said for Exeter to get a win in the postseason, 32 minutes is the requirement.

“We hope to play as close to 32 minutes a game as we can get and be on the right side of the win column,” he said.

The Tigers faced district and conference opponent Hurley on Tuesday, with results not available at presstime. They play next on the road at Thomas Jefferson on Thursday.