Devonport Warriors have entered a side in the under 18 boys' B competition, marking the first time a team has crossed Bass Strait to play in the Warrnambool tournament.

Warriors council secretary Gina Timms said the club wanted to find something new for the side.

"Scott Russell is their coach and he decided to take the boys away for a long weekend that we have here in Tasmania because we don't have any basketball," she said.

"We started fund-raising then found the Seaside Classic and signed them up.

"We have teams go to the annual Eltham tournament in January and they go to a Nunawading tournament.

"We try and find something extra for the kids.

"Sometimes it's very challenging for them but it's a great opportunity for the boys to compete against players that they don't know."

The team - which landed in Melbourne yesterday morning - is an under 16 intertown side which plays in the Northwest Basketball Competition.

The Warriors take on sides along the coast such as Somerset, Burnie, Penguin and Ulverstone.

"It's very strong," Timms said of the competition. "It's the best in Tasmania."

Devonport should not have any trouble being competitive in the higher age group this weekend as it is the current under 16 state champions of the Apple Isle.

Other teams which will travel to compete in the classic include Millicent, Bellarine, Ararat and Corio Bay, while numerous south-west clubs such as Portland, Hamilton, Colac and Timboon have entered.

The classic will be held for the 19th time.

Four stadiums - The Arc, Brauer College, St Pius X and Emmanuel College - will be used to host the 14 grades which range from under 12 to under 18.

There are 80 teams, including 14 from Warrnambool, with 177 matches scheduled.

Action starts at 9am today and 8.30am tomorrow.

Tomorrow's grand finals start from 12.40pm.