LOCAL NOTES.

Basketball: The Antelope Valley College-McDonald's Basketball Tournament started Thursday with College of the Canyons playing defending champ Mira Costa, Santa Monica College battling Mt. San Jacinto, Riverside meeting Moorpark College and the host Marauders playing L.A. Trade Tech.

The tournament will continue through the weekend with the championship game played Sunday at 4 p.m. Last year Mira Costa defeated Antelope Valley 65-59 in the championship game.

Wrestling: The Viper Wrestling Club will be conducting open registration from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at College of the Canyons. Coaches are needed. For more information, call Cecilia Mercado at [phone].

Basketball: Boys and girls 8 to 13 will show their skills in shooting free throws at the Elks Hoop Shoot on Dec. 14 at Lancaster High School, 44701 32nd St. W.

Competition will begin at 10 a.m., and each contestant will shoot 25 free throws.

The boy and girl in each age group who makes the most baskets will advance to the district competition. Participants qualified for the local shoot-off through contests at their schools.

For more information, call Ruben Ruiz at [phone].

Soccer: The Lancaster High School Boys' Soccer Boosters will present the inaugural 1996 Eagles Classic Boys Varsity/Junior Varsity Soccer Tournament today, Saturday and Dec. 14.

Sixteen varsity and 10 junior varsity teams from throughout Southern California will compete in games played at Lancaster High School and Quartz Hill High School.

Admission is $1, or free for Associated Student Body card holders. Proceeds benefit the Lancaster and Quartz Hill soccer teams. Information: [phone].

Basketball: The city of Lancaster and Pepsi will present the local qualifying round of the Southern California Pepsi Hot Shot competition at noon Sunday at Paraclete High School.

Boys and girls born between 1981 and 1988 who are not currently listed on a senior high school varsity roster will display their shooting, dribbling, speed and rebounding abilities.

There is no cost for the participants. Preregistration is available at Lancaster City Hall, 44933 Fern Ave.

The Lancaster competition will send one winner from each of the four age and gender categories to the area finals Jan. 11 at the South Gate Sports Center in South Gate.

At the finals, youngsters will compete to determine the top three finalists.

Winners will receive medals, Pepsi promotional items and Laker/Clipper NBA game tickets.

For more information, call Jeff Campbell at [phone].

Baseball: Quartz Hill Pony League will hold early sign-ups, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., today and Saturday at Team Sports Locker, 42301 10th St. W., Lancaster. The league is for 13- and 14-year-olds. Each player must bring a copy of their birth certificate and a utility bill as proof of residence.

For more information, call [phone].

Baseball: Palmdale Little League will hold early sign-ups, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Dec. 14 at Domenic Massari Park at 55th Street E. and Avenue R-4.

Parents are asked to bring proof of residence and copies of athletes' birth certificates for all players new to the league.

Sign-ups are for boys and girls 5 to 15 for softball and baseball. Information: [phone].