Irvine Valley's men's basketball team was off to the best record in school history.
It had won 17 of its first 18 games and earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history in December.
Some had questioned the Lasers' strength of schedule as well as the teams it had beaten so far in the 2013-14 campaign.
That can't happen any more.
Irvine Valley earned its best win of the season, stunning rival Saddleback, 64-63, as sophomore guard Shaquille hit the biggest shot of his life.
Hunter, Irvine Valley's leading scorer and a returning all-Orange Empire Conference player, drilled a three-pointer from the corner with a defender in his face with 1.5 seconds left in overtime to win it.
Irvine Valley, ranked No. 12 in the state this week, improved its record to 18-1 overall and 3-0 in conference. Saddleback, ranked No. 7, fell to 15-4 overall and 1-1 in conference.
The 18-1 record continues to be the best start in Irvine Valley program history.
Freshman guard/forward Jimmy Golden led Irvine Valley with 16 points. Hunter added 15 points. Sophomore guard Dathon Spencer came off the bench with 12 important points and sophomore center Declan Daly contributed 11 points for Irvine Valley.
The Gauchos led the majority of the game.
Saddleback led, 26-13, at halftime and looked to be in control. Irvine Valley shot just 19.0 percent from the field and made only four field goals in the first half against a physical Saddleback squad.
IVC didn't give in, however, mounting a comeback and beating the Gauchos in their own building.
Irvine Valley out-scored Saddleback, 44-31, in the second half.
And the Lasers outscored Saddleback by seven points in the final 59 seconds of regulation to force overtime.
Down, 57-50, after two free throws by Dalante Dunkin with 59 seconds to play, Golden nailed a three-pointer and then after a turnover and a foul, Golden made two free throws to make it a 57-55 game with 42 seconds left.
Saddleback missed a shot with 26 seconds left in regulation and Hunter grabbed the defensive rebound. He was later fouled with 23 seconds to go and made both free throws.
The Gauchos had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Bryan Fisher missed a shot.
In overtime, IVC jumped out to a 61-58 lead.
Saddleback scored five straight points, including getting one of two free throws by De'Corrius Sampson-??? with 26 seconds left in the extra period to go ahead, 63-61.
After a timeout by Irvine Valley with 16 seconds to go, the Lasers got the ball to Hunter and he provided the heroics.
The game was physical as the two teams combined for 53 personal fouls.
IVC was solid from the free throw line, converting 23 of 31 free throws, including 19 of 23 in the second half.
After a solid half from the free throw line for Saddleback, the Gauchos went cold down the stretch, making just 10 of 17 in the second half.
Andre McPhail led Saddleback with 20 points. He scored half of his points from the free throw line.
Eric Thompson led the Gauchos with nine rebounds.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, traveling to a tough Santa Ana team for a 5:30 p.m. game.
